Canadian juniors shut out of medals — again
MALMO, Sweden — Team Canada left the ice at Malmo Arena on Sunday, after a 2- 1 loss, the same way they did a year ago.
For the second- straight world junior championship, a defeat to Russia in the bronze- medal game means the Canadians are returning home without a medal.
That has never happened since Hockey Canada created its Program of Excellence in 1982 — essentially when the organization began sending the country’s best players to the under- 20 tournament.
“We didn’t make it. That can’t happen,” said alternate captain Jonathan Drouin, the only Canadian to play in last year’s 6- 5 overtime loss.
“Two years where Canada didn’t get a medal. That’s unacceptable.”
Playing less than 24 hours after a 5- 1 loss to Finland in the semifinal, the Canadians desperately wanted to make amends.
However, they were still feeling the effects of missing out on playing in the gold- medal game for the third time in as many years.
“That’s the one we’re going to remember and regret,” defenceman Mathew Dumba said. “We didn’t show up for that one. It was probably our worst game and the worst timing.”
Canada surrendered two goals in the first period — a power play marker to Mikhail Grigorenko and a shot off a rush by Eduard Gimatov.
They weren’t able to solve Russian netminder Andrei Vasilevski until just past the sevenminute mark of the third. That was all they would get. The Canadians were left to stand on the blue- line after the buzzer sounded and watch the Russians receive their medals.
“Those guys said it feels better bringing home something than nothing,” said 17- year- old defenceman Aaron Ekblad of the pre- game message relayed by Drouin and fellow returnees Griffin Reinhart and Jake Paterson.
“When you put on this crest and try to represent your country and can’t even bring a medal back to Canada ... it’s heartbreaking,” Canadian captain Scott Laughton added.
For the Russians, it was time to rejoice. Sunday’s win was their fourth over Canada in the last five meetings at the event.
They’ve won three in a row: the 2011 gold- medal, 2012 semifinal and 2013 bronzemedal games.
“Both,” said Grigorenko, a Russian returnee, when asked whether it’s better to beat Canada or win bronze.
“On one side, I’m thinking, ‘ We beat Canada.’ Then we went up to get the medals. It goes to together.”
The margin of victory was small. Canada outshot the opposition 32- 31.
“I think we played a very good game,” goaltender Zach Fucale said. “Obviously, it wasn’t good enough to win.”
The Canadians just never got on even terms after falling behind. That was a common thread throughout the tournament.
They allowed the first goal in all but one of their 10 games, including pre- tournament contests.