FanHouse is keeping hockey fans updated on the happenings at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Ottawa.Will blowing a 3-0 lead against their neighbors to the north affect Team USA?
We're bound to find out soon enough, as the medal round of the World Junior Championships begins with Friday's quarterfinals.
Obviously, it's too difficult to predict how the Americans will bounce back. This is, after all, a team of teenagers. Expecting them to always respond well to adversity is not exactly a fair thing to do.
However, the way they handled themselves Wednesday night would indicate that they'll be fine. They didn't get suckered into Canada's game of "hit and run" hockey, though it was clear the players were somewhat rattled by Canada's
Now is their chance to shake it off.
In theory, Team USA should have no problem with quarterfinal opponent Slovakia. The Americans have better skill, are a more effective team physically, and they have better goaltending. As long as they aren't looking ahead to Sweden and (potentially) Canada for the gold medal, Friday's game shouldn't be a problem.
Having seen the Czech Republic twice, I'd be stunned if they got by Russia in the other quarterfinal game. The Russians are in the upper tier of teams in this event, and they should get their shot at Canada on Saturday.
Those semifinals set up to be quite interesting. Despite Sweden's status as a group winner, they will be an underdog against the Americans. They certainly would love to prove the experts wrong. Russia has the same chip on their shoulder against Canada, but will it be enough?
I don't think it will. My expectation is that the United States and Canada will meet for the gold. If that game Monday night has half the atmosphere, intensity, emotion, and entertainment value as Wednesday's game did, we're all in for a great show.
The schedule for the rest of the event is as follows. All times are Eastern:
Quarterfinals - Friday
Russia vs. Czech Republic, 3:30pm
United States vs. Slovakia, 7:30pm
Semifinals - Saturday
USA/Slovakia winner vs. Sweden, 3:30pm
Russia/Czech winner vs. Canada, 7:30pm
Finals - Monday
Bronze medal game, 3:30pm
Gold medal game, 7:30pm
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-02-2009 @ 6:59PM
Syl said...
Canadfa's dirty hockey? How about the goon who DELIBERATELY slashed a Canadian player in the face after a goal? He should be banned from hockey for life. This is NOT Slapshot! And of course the Ugly Americans tried it again today as the Slovaks cruched them! There is a God!
Dirty Candians indeed!
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1-02-2009 @ 7:53PM
Jan said...
A semifinal match Sweden vs. USA ?... just stop dreaming,maybe next year..As we speak,USA has been eliminated by Slovakia !!!
What a great lesson to all freaking morons Who dare to predict stupidity such as,USA should have no problem against Slovakia..and US has better goaltending...and,,..I would go on and on with plenty of crap but it's simply useless at this point,...and Slovak goalie,by a far margin, simply outperformed his American counterpart.... I just want to congratulate Slovakia and wish them a good luck against Sweden...
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1-02-2009 @ 9:06PM
SJ said...
Congrats to Slovakia for their version of "Miracle on Ice". Their goalie was awesome and won the game for his nation. That said, the Canadian players are by far THE biggest cheap shot artists occupying the ice in Ottawa. Della Chump taking a sucker punch at vanRiemsdyk was typical of the entire Canadian squad. After every whistle they slash and cross check. But you can understand their mentality when you watch and listen to their fanbase.You're a real classy bunch Canada, cheering for every team that played against the USA. NO other country has done more for you ingrates than America. Just remember, you'll ALWAYS be second fiddle to the US.
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1-03-2009 @ 2:27PM
Old Time Hockey said...
SJ how DARE you criticize the canadian team! Don't you know that hockey is canada's? The ugly Americans have gone and taken it from the canadians. They are understandably upset, wouldn't you be if you were them? Just imagine if that sissy brand of football known as the CFL actually became decent? Wouldn't that tick you off as an American? Imagine how tough it must be to know in the back of every canadian's mind lurks the thought that the country they enjoy bashing has protected them and kept them safe for so many years asking for nothing in return. Imagine how they have to watch our television stations and programs because theirs is so God-awful it makes them sick (with full funding from their tax dollars).
Face it...canada is the 51st state. A 2007 CBC poll (www.cbc2007pollCanadaJoinUSA?.com) shows that an overwhelming majority of canadians secretly long to be Americans (87%).
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