Americans living up to their word
Team USA upped level of play when needed to advance to gold-medal game
UFA, Russia • When he strolled into the rink in Russia back before the world juniors got underway, defenceman Seth Jones said the Americans would be the team to beat.
The jibe talking followed after the U.S. got out to a 1-2 start with losses to Russia and Canada in the Pool B preliminary round.
But after attentions turned elsewhere, the team started to roll. The Americans defeated Slovakia to avoid a trip to the relegation round, then followed up with wins against the Czech Republic and Canada in the playoff round, propelling the squad all the way into a gold-medal matchup with the defending champs from Sweden.
The Swedes held off Russia in a shootout in the other semifinal matchup Thursday at the Ufa Arena.
“I didn’t want to sound cocky or anything before the tournament but I knew we had all the tools to win a gold medal. Luckily that turned out in my favour and I didn’t look like an idiot,” said Jones, the Portland Winterhawks star who could be the next top pick in the NHL draft.
“We’re not done yet but I just have a lot of confidence in my teammates. We knew that they were one of the best teams here and we gave it all we had in that first game (against Canada) in the round robin and came up a little short.”
The U.S. last won gold in 2010, defeating Canada to do so. The Americans will need another standout game by goaltender John Gibson against the Swedes, who defeated Russia in a shootout.
Many had predicted a Canada-Russia final, not a Canada-Russia bronze-medal game. Sweden was 3-1 in the preliminary round in Pool A.
“That was good for us. We know that we have a good team so it was good for us to lay back and not talk so much,” said Sweden’s Elias Lindholm. “Our goal before the tournament was to take the gold and that’s what we’re here to do.”
Lindholm added he didn’t know much about the American team that was turning heads in Russia but he was on the losing end of a loss against the stars and stripes during the under-18 tournament and he, for one, wanted a rematch.
U.S. captain Jake McCabe played in that tournament and said that beating Sweden was one of his international highlights. So too was the victory over Canada on Thursday.
“It’s a pretty special feeling beating a team like Canada. It’s such an emotional game but we’re here for a gold medal,” he said. “This is up there.
“I’ve played Sweden to a gold medal-overtime game, played Canada in the semifinal and beat them in overtime but this is right up there if not higher. That gold-medal game is probably going to be the biggest in my career.”
U.S. coach Phil Housley had no concerns his players had spent most of their intensity and focus getting to the final.
“How many opportunities will you have in your playing career to play for the gold medal? They know what’s at stake,” said Housley.
“I get goosebumps every time I look at the locker and see the jersey hanging up,” said John Gaudreau, the U.S. forward/ Calgary Flames prospect with a tournament high seven goals.