Canada goes for gold today at WJHC
Posted January 5, 2018 7:03 am.
Last Updated January 5, 2018 9:47 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The temperature outside the Key Bank Centre in Buffalo may be below freezing this afternoon, but it will be a different story inside the arena when Team Canada takes on Sweden in the final of the World Junior Hockey Championship.
Mira Laurence with Sportsnet 650 says Canada will be in tough against the Swedes, who are unbeaten in the tournament.
“I think today, we’re going to see the best of Canada. Canada’s going to need to be their best… We’re talking about a Swedish team that last won a gold medal in 2012. Team Canada hasn’t won a gold medal since 2015. So, we have two teams that have something to prove.”
Canada beat the Czech Republic 7-2 yesterday to advance to the gold medal game.
Laurence tells us there’s little the Canadian coaches can do ahead of this winner-take-all game.
“The players know what needs to happen now. They’ve won so many games already. They’ve shown what they can on the ice. What do you say to a team in a gold medal game that you haven’t said in another elimination game in the round robin, when Team Canada finishes first in their pool?”
She adds a win would be special for the squad, which was thrown together late last year.
“I think that’s what makes this tournament so special. You have these young guys that have just come in from all different walks of life — whether it be the WHL, the OHL, the QMJHL — they come together under the great red and white flag, and go out there and try to win it for Canada.”
“And It’s special for Canadians. I believe that this tournment — despite the lack of people in the seats that we’ve seen in Buffalo — for Canadians, this tournament is a big deal,” she adds.
Sweden beat the United States 4-2 yesterday in the other semifinal.
The Canada vs Sweden gold medal game begins at 5 p.m. Pacific.
The United States will take on the Czech Republic for bronze at 1 p.m. Pacific.
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