USA now public enemy No. 1
The days of Canada vs. Russia being the main grudge match are gone; the U. S. is the top rival now
BUFFALO — Twelve months later, Dominique Ducharme still hasn’t been able to rewatch the gold medal game.
Well, that’s not entirely true.
“I watched part of it,” said the Team Canada head coach. “I just pause it and stop it when I get to the shootout.”
Most Canadians probably feel the same way. Depending on your country of origin, last year’s 5- 4 overtime shootout win by the U. S. against Canada in the world junior hockey championship final was either heartbreaking or heartwarming. But everyone can agree that it was unforgettable.
For the first three periods, the teams traded goals and chances in a fast- paced, hard- checking game that featured everything we love about junior hockey: highlightreel goals, bonus- footage bloopers and more momentum swings than a fight featuring Rocky Balboa.
Canada jumped out to a 2- 0 lead in the first period, only to have the U. S. tie things up with two straight goals in the second. Canada once again took a two- goal lead in the third period. But once again, the U. S. struck back with two goals. Overtime settled nothing, so a game that probably could have — and should have — gone on forever went to a deciding shootout, where American forward Troy Terry channelled T. J. Oshie ( or Jonathan Toews) and scored twice for a dramatic win.
“I hate to be that guy, but I probably watched that in a lot of my classes,” said American captain Joey Anderson, a University of Minnesota Duluth forward and one of seven returning players from last year’s team. “I’d just throw it on YouTube and sit there and watch it on my computer. It’s pretty fun to look back on that. Hopefully we can do it again.”
We will have to wait to see whether Canada and the U. S., which have played for gold in four previous tournaments, will meet again in this year’s final. Until then, Friday’s outdoor game at New Era Field — the home of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills — is a pretty good warm- up.
The stakes are obviously not quite as high this time around. And yet, with first place in Group A likely on the line, don’t expect anyone to take it easy.
“This is different,” said Team USA head coach Bob Motzko. “Usually it’s a regular season game ( in the NHL for an outdoor game), but this is one that could have major implications in seeding. So this means something big. But if you look at the history of these games, they’re low- scoring. So you got to get ready to play hard and play heavy and not make a lot of mistakes in a game like that. I think the excitement will get over quickly, and then it’s survival.”
Then again, whether it’s played indoors or outdoors or with miniature figures underneath a bubbled tabletop, Canada versus the U. S. has become appointment viewing. Every game matters. Every game is memorable.
Like two siblings fighting over the last spoonful of turkey stuffing at Christmas dinner, it’s a clash that comes with a backstory. There might not be hatred between the two countries, but there is a history that has made it hockey’s biggest rivalry. Think back to Jonathan Toews going three- for- three in the semifinal shootout of the 2007 world juniors or Sidney Crosby’s golden goal at the 2010 Olympics or Marie- Philip Poulin scoring twice in an unbelievable comeback win in the 2014 Olympics.
By now, no other country even comes close.
The days when Russia was Canada’s main hockey rival appear to be stuck in the Cold War era. Sweden and Finland? With all due respect, they might as well be Team Europe. When it comes to bragging rights, it’s all about Canada versus the U. S. Period.
“We know we’re rivals and that rivalry is right there and intense, so we know every time it’s going to be a tight game,” said Ducharme, who has seven returning players from last year’s team on his roster. “So we expect the same. Last year was a tight game, a shootout game, so we’re going to keep going at it again.”
Part of the reason Canada’s games against the U. S. have become so intense is familiarity. While Canada has played Russia in eight of the last 19 world junior finals, the Canadians usually have to go through the U. S. to get there.
The two countries have been lumped together in the same group in eight of the last 10 years, where they almost always play one other in the final game of the preliminary round on New Year’s Eve. But that’s not all. Whether it’s under18, under- 17 or a Five Nations tournament, Canada and the U. S. are well- acquainted dance partners. The players on either team have grown up playing against each other, but also with each other, either in major junior leagues in Canada or in the NCAA in the U. S.
“Obviously, you’re always battling with Canada,” said American forward Max Jones, a forward with the London Knights. “They’re right over the border. But it’s a playful rivalry. We’re all hockey players and I play with a couple of guys on that team and am good buddies with some of them. But it’s completely different now. We’re obviously trying to win the game, so there’s no friends out there, but at the end of the day we’re still teammates. It’s going to be a competitive game.”
“It’s probably the biggest ( rivalry) in hockey,” said Canadian defenceman Victor Mete, who was Jones’ teammate last year in London.
“I think it’s kind of every level,” said Mete. “The rivalry between the two is just crazy. Canada wants to beat USA, and USA wants to beat Canada, so every age group — U- 17, U- 18, U- 20, Olympics — is pretty crazy.”
Mete, who was one of the final cuts from last year’s team, watched the 2017 gold medal final at Jones’ house. It was a bit awkward. As a team, they were all cheering for Knights goalie Tyler Parsons, who was playing for the U. S., to have a strong tournament. But as the game went on, national allegiances undoubtedly came out.
“It was kind of a team thing, because we had Parsons playing for Team USA, so we were kind of just watching the game,” Mete said. “It was crazy. They were cheering for the U. S. and we were cheering for Canada, so it was a little battle going on.”
“Obviously, Parsons was there, so we were cheering him on,” said Jones. “It kind of worked out against them ( Canada). Parsons played well, but he was also the reason ( the U. S.) won.
“Now we’re all a part of it.”