You won't hear about much of this on ESPN or any major American news service, but it should be big news in the sports world. Yea, I know it's hockey so it gets the short straw most of the time. I've never watched a hockey game that wasn't either from the Olympics or the pros in the NHL and late night before I went to bed I happened to find yesterday's championship game on the NHL network so I decided to check it out for a few minutes. What I saw was an instant classic game played by kids in the U 20 bracket and some of who have been drafted by many pro teams. Canada had won the Gold for 5 years in a row---they were heavy favorites and it was played in their building.
The talent level was incredible and the action was end to end all game. Canada made a great comeback after they got a break by the refs who called a bad penalty with five minutes left and they scored two goals to send it into overtime. With the crowd roaring in Saskatoon it looked like the USA had no chance, but rushed out of their zone and scored the overtime winner on a goal by John Carlson.
John Carlson scored his second goal of the night 4:21 into overtime to lead the U.S. to the 6-5 upset over the five-time defending champs.
Carlson's shot from the left circle beat Martin Jones to end Canada's winning streak and give the U.S. its first WJC gold medal since the Americans beat Canada in the 2004 title game in Helsinki, Finland.
"Jack (Campbell) made a good save, and all I saw was the puck going up the ice," said Carlson, Washington's first-round pick in 2008 who was on loan to the junior team from the AHL Hershey Bears. "I was looking to dish right away (but) the guy was taking it away. I got lucky with the shot."
America has really been developing some fine young hockey players and this was a huge lift to the US hockey movement. The Olympics are coming up next in February and that should be an incredible battle too as Russia, Sweden, Canada and the USA will go for the Gold.
