Is this the most wonderful time of the year? For me it’s the Super Bowl for me. The World Junior Championships begin on Boxing Day (December 26th). I finally get to see the great stars of tomorrow instead of reading about them. The great thing this year is the NHL Network will be broadcasting all of Canada’s and the United States games.
The teams are in the pre-tournament phase. Canada has played two games against Sweden and Finland. The Sweden game felt like a gold medal game at the Air Canada Centre. It was the first time that John Tavares (Canada) and Victor Heman (Sweden) faced off this season. Both are fighting to be the number one selection in next year’s NHL Draft. TSN did a quick poll at the game of ten NHL scouts who would they choose if they had the number one selection. 6 said for Tavares and 4 for Hedman. It all depends on the team’s need.
As I watched the game (Thank You Justin.tv), Canada was ready to get the game going. Dana Tyrell welcomed Victor Hedman into the game with a hit that sent Hedman off the ice. It seems he hasn’ learned to take a hit and needs to use his 6’7 frame. Hedman seems to be proned to injuries also. He left the game a bit. He just came back from a shoulder injury and last year at the Under-18 tournament he suffered a concussion. Canada treated like game that counted. Sweden treated it like a “friendly.” John Tavares took it from there as he gave Canada the 1-0 lead. Hedman did get on the scoreboard with Sweden’s second goal.
Canada suffered a loss in that game. Tyrell injuried himself in the game and his season is done. He will be replaced by 17-year-old forward Evander Kane (No relation to Patrick Kane) of the Vancouver Giants. Kane has 24 goals and 17 assists in 28 games.
Last night in the Finland game, Canada had an average game. They trailed twice to the Finnish who will be in the middle of the pack. The star of this game was Washington Capitals draft pick Stefan Della Rovere. He’s an energy guy and he had a goal an assist. He also threw his weight around.
Cody Hodgson who was selected by the Vancouver Canucks this past summer has been Canada’s best overall player. He has three goals and three assists in the two games. He was a late cut by the Canucks and he looks like he will be in the NHL next season.
The United States defeated Latvia 13-2 yesterday. There was no TV or Web coverage of that game. They play Russia on Tuesday. Canada plays Slovakia tomorrow also. That game will be on TSN and should be on Justin.tv for American viewers.
Here’s my Top Ten Players for the tournament.
I leave you with Swedish back up goaltender Mark Owuya as he goes on Sweden’s version of American Idol
