GOLDEN COMEBACK
Canada’s captain Barrett Hayton celebrates after a 4-3 win over Russia in the gold medal game at the World Junior Hockey Championship on Sunday in the Czech Republic.
Akil Thomas was a fan in Buffalo two years ago when lightly-used Tyler Steenbergen scored the world junior-winning goal for Canada.
“I was in the stands with friends joking around,” the 19-year-old Niagara Icedogs forward recalled, “that I’m going to score that goal one day. He didn’t play much and he ended up scoring the (deciding) goal. I was inspired by him.
“It’s funny how life works sometimes.”
On Sunday, Thomas became the new Steenbergen, a fourthline energy guy whose hustle earned him the gold-medal tally with 3:58 left to cap one of the greatest comebacks in tournament history, 4-3 over Russia before 8,693 at Ostravar Arena.
It was his first, and only, goal in seven contests.
“I usually throw up before games,” Thomas said. “Today, I didn’t. I wasn’t nervous. I felt like my time was coming. Time was ticking and I kind of had a feeling Dale (coach Dale Hunter) would call my name. Luckily, he did. Dale mentioned after the game he thought I was going to score. That’s why he put me out there. “I think it was just destiny.”
The Thomas marker lifted Canada to its first gold — and first medal of any kind — on European ice since 2008. It was Canada’s 18th championship title in world junior history.
“I was just looking for some firepower and I’ve seen him score lots of goals,” Hunter said. “He plays in our league (the OHL) and I scouted him in minor midget. He has great hands. “We’ve seen him improving. He was doing the little things (like blocking shots).
“I had a hunch.”
Hunter played a lot of right cards during the tournament.
Alexis Lafreniere, the tournament MVP, missed two games with a knee injury after the Russian blowout loss. Connor Mcmichael moved up in his place and produced. Jamie Drysdale was the seventh defenceman until Bowen Byram fell ill and missed the semifinal — and he scored, too.
“Akil didn’t get many opportunities, but everyone knows what a good player he is,” Mcmichael said. “Dale trusts him and threw him out there and he showed why.”
Down two goals midway through the third, there wasn’t much room to breathe.
But Mcmichael had a puck redirect off his skate and in.
“At that point, we were just trying to throw everything at the net,” the Washington Capitals first-round selection said about his fifth goal in seven games,
“and it worked.”
Then, Canadian captain Barrett Hayton, a game-time decision with a shoulder injury suffered Saturday against Finland, wired home the tying goal 10 seconds into a power play to draw even.
Somehow, he mustered the strength to whip it past netminder Amir Miftakhov. Just a week ago, he was apologizing to the Russians for leaving his helmet on during their anthem.
“I put my all into that shot,” the Arizona Coyotes centre said. “I didn’t want to miss this game for anything. There was definitely some pain. You’re so much in the moment, you don’t really feel those injuries. The medical staff did an unbelievable job.
“I owe it to them to give me this opportunity.”
His teammates didn’t even know if he would be able to play. They were certain he was going to try.
“He’s a warrior,” Hunter said. “That’s why he’s our captain. He wanted to play and he zipped that puck. That was a heck of a shot. He led the way.”
Comeback gold will never get old.
Nine years ago in Buffalo,
Valeri Bragin’s Russian team dug out of a three-goal hole to shock the Canadians in the final.
This time, the same coach watched a multiple-goal lead go down the drain eight days after they pounded the Canadians 6-0.
“That’s our team,” Hunter said. “We never gave up. It’s been up and down. There were injuries and suspensions. Our depth showed in Canada. They just kept pushing ahead.”
In that blowout loss, they fell behind immediately. This time, they killed off four Russian power plays in the first period as Finnish refs Lassi Heikkinen and Kristian Vikman were roundly booed off the ice at intermission by the largely pro-canada crowd.
“That was so big for us,” Canadian forward Liam Foudy said. “That gave us a real boost.”
SWEDEN 3, FINLAND 2: Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Rasmus Sandin scored his third goal in two days to help the Swedes secure their first bronze medal in 10 years earlier in the day.
The 19-year-old Toronto Marlies defenceman led all blueliners in scoring with three goals and 10 points in seven games with a plus-3 rating. He was also the Tre Kronor’s busiest player, averaging 17:45 of ice time per game.