U.S. beats Canada for gold at WJHC

On the line was a trip to the gold medal game, and there was a feeling of déjà vu leading up to puck drop- last year, it was Russian Federation who stunned the United States, ending any aspirations of the U.S. skating away with a championship.

And for all the talk of the U.S.

Five minutes into Thursday’s gold medal game, Barzal cut through the USA defence and put the puck on the stick of Chabot, who tapped it in for the opening goal.

Here are Canada’s golden moments. Overall, Canada has won the world juniors 16 times, while Team USA has three WJC titles.

Canada, on the other hand, allowed a tourney-low 14 goals against. “But as I came down I guess-I guess it just took over me, I had to try it”.

Thomas Chabot and Mathieu Joseph had a goal and an assist each for Team Canada. Among the Soviets that year: Alexander Mogilny and Sergei Fedorov.

The Americans, who earned bronze a year ago, are seeking their first World Junior gold since beating Sweden in the 2013 final while their previous titles came in 2004 and 2010. Bellows would head to the box early in the 3rd and Canada would take the lead once again on the ensuing power play. Hart, surely, will start for Canada in the final.

But Canada’s momentum didn’t last long.

For a family of four attending the gold-medal game in the cheapest seats – with parking, four hot dogs, two soft drinks and two beers – the cost would have been $474.

On the “Have A Purpose” tattoo he has on his arm to remember Ian Jenkins, a former London draft pick from MI who died after falling out of a pickup truck in Milan in 2011: “I got “Have A Purpose” on my arm with an angel going up to heaven”.

Canada has now medaled all 12 times when hosting the tournament, but this one will sting.

Less than five minutes later, Jeremy Lauzon got the puck off of an American turnover at the top of the circle and fired a shot over the blocker of Tyler Parsons to double the Canadian lead.

Canada had a flawless record of six wins at the 1996 World Juniors in Boston.

The gold medal is the United States’ fourth in the history of the event and third since 2010. They’ve captured three silver and three bronze medals since that triumphant effort over Canada.

The United States answered with two quick goals of its own, however, and then held on to force overtime. They’re seeking to become Eagles #4, 5, and 6 to win World Junior gold.

At the other end, Tyler Parsons was equally brilliant – if not more so – in Team USA’s semifinal victory over Russian Federation.

In tonight’s gold medal match, the USA will face Canada, which beat Sweden 5-2 on Wednesday night.

But in 2005 in Grand Forks, North Dakota, with another National Hockey League lockout giving Canada what was probably its strongest junior team, the Canadians steamrolled all comers 41-7 in goals scored and wrapping up a flawless 6-0 record.

It was the fourth time that the USA and Canada had played in the final and the third time that the US had come out on top. After the third round, a player can be used multiple times.

Chabot was also named the best defenceman of the tournament and best player of the final.

Canada’s first really good chance found the back of the net as Thomas Chabot completed a flawless run of at least a point in every game at this year’s tournament, firing home a setup from Mathieu Joseph and Matthew Barzal at 4:38. In 2013 and 2016, there were no medals. Team USA beat Canada, 3-1, in a preliminary meeting.