It was a collapse of epic proportions, one that the members of the 2011 Canadian national junior team and an entire country will not soon forget. Leading 3-0 entering the third period, Canada sat back and allowed the Russians to take control.
The first goal didn’t seem like a big deal. Then they scored another. When Russia tied the game, you could feel Canadian living rooms everywhere going into panic mode. As flashbacks of other Gold Medal game collapses danced in people’s heads, the Russians took the lead and then added another just to prove they were all business.
Goaltender Mark Visentin faced 10 shots in the third period. Five of them went in. But he can’t be solely blamed for this loss. The entire Canadian team allowed this game to get away from them.
Sure, finishing the World Junior Hockey Championships with a silver medal hanging around your neck is a great accomplishment, but, as seen in the third period, perhaps Russia just wanted gold more.
The Russian team isn’t the same squad that collapsed in the 2009 semi-final against Canada. It isn’t the team full of superstars that bowed out early at the Olympics. This was a team that faced adversity, starting the tournament 0-2 and eventually entering the medal round through the back door. They came back to win the quarter-final and semi-final game and were, maybe, just maybe destined to storm back and claim gold last night.
Canada has now lost two consecutive Gold Medal games at the world juniors following a streak of winning five straight.
Sea Dogs defenseman Simon Despres heads back to Saint John after serving his time on the Team Canada blue line. He finished the tournament with three assists and a +8 rating. Last night, the ‘Big Horse’ recorded two shots on goal and a -1 rating.
Sea Dogs fans can welcome Despres back home on Tuesday when the PEI Rocket are in town for a 7:00 pm start.
For more coverage on the breakdown in Buffalo, check out Buzzing The Net.
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