Canada Repeats at U20 WJC
VILLACH, AUSTRIA has a magnificent skyline. For many urbanites that would normally mean tall buildings. In Villach it is an endless string of mountains that fills your view behind the picturesque city with a village feel. Known as a popular tourist spot for skiing, its summer attributes are equally inviting.
The relevance of the tournament location relates to the overall experience for the players. Ultimately the game is paramount, but a positive environment helps build the spirit of the athletes and their appreciation of the task that lays before them in competition.
For the Canadian U20 team their tournament unfolded much the same as in 2008 when many of the same players wore the red & white as the U18 team in Zvolen, SVK. That 2008 team was dominant from the opening game straight through to the final. Amassing a 33:10 scoring advantage the 2010 version proved their continued quality. Their closer scored games against the Czech Republic and Slovakia were not a true reflection of the control of play and numerous Canadian scoring opportunities, so it was little surprise that they had already qualified for the Gold-medal game after the first four of the five round-robin games. The 2010 format was without semi-finals, opting for a full head-to-head round-robin amongst all six teams to determine medal game positions.
The rest of the nations had much greater difficulty in stratifying themselves with competitive play between AUT, CZE, SVK, and USA, leaving possible results that could have easily seen a variety of 2nd through 5th place finishes. In fact, for the first time ever, a shoot-out after round-robin play was required to break a dead-even tie between Czech Republic and Slovakia to determine who would advance to the championship match, with the other left to challenge for a Bronze medal against USA. The short program attracted significant attention from players and spectators all interested to witness this historic moment with so heavy an importance in its result. The Czechs would reign supreme shooting the lights out with all four initial shots while the Slovaks only mustered two. No need for a fifth shooter. The spread was insurmountable.
With an irony that only sport can create, the Slovaks would need a shoot-out win against the USA to claim the Bronze and protect their noble history of never leaving a World Championship of any level without a medal, the only country to achieve this. The 3rd place game had two decided halves, the first dominated by Slovakia in which they built a 2:0 lead and looked to run away with the game, however in the second half the Americans mounted a comeback that at one point had them leading 3:2, with U20 Most Valuable Defenceman Rob Roth providing the go-ahead goal as well as an assist. Slovakian Matus Palocko scored with a few minutes left to send the game into overtime. The O/T was exciting with brilliant opportunities for both sides but neither could find the golden goal, which led to the shoot-out decider. Slovakia would place defender Michal Sismic and forward Jaroslav Martinusik to the U20 All-star team. USA claimed the Fairplay Cup as least penalized team of the WJC.
Austria claimed 5th place by way of a 3:1 victory over Germany. Both teams improved as the tournament went along, providing their best game for their final match. There is a long standing friendly rivalry in sport between the two nations, and the local fans were delighted with the final result in their favour, largely on the play of U20 All-star goalie Lukas Schluderbacher.
The biggest factor leading into the Gold medal game was the momentum and motivation the Czechs gained from their hard fought 5-goal spread win over Austria in the final game to force the tie with the Slovaks, and the dramatic extraordinary tie-break shoot-out win. After the first period finished with equal scoring chances and only a last-minute scored (Pat McCarron) one goal difference in favour of Canada, it was apparent that the Czechs had elevated their play. The Canadians had yet to be really challenged in the tournament in a meaningful game. They responded resoundingly with a high tempo and three quick goals in the opening 5 minutes (Garret Wilson, Jagpal Sandhu, and Andrew Howes). Tournament MVP and Top Scorer Andrew Shaw added the fifth goal in the eleventh minute after assisting on two of the others.
No nation has ever repeated as champions of the U20, and only Canada has won more than once (2000 & 2008). A new chapter was written in Villach with the 5:0 Gold medal win by Canada.
Ryan Giesler (defence) and Matt Paul (forward) of CAN joined Michal Prucha (forward) of CZE on U20 All-star team. Canadian Brian Valentine was nearly flawless all tournament, playing in the more difficult matches, was rewarded as Most Valuable Goaltender. Jan Bily (CZE) was honoured as Most Valuable Forward.
President's note
George Gortsos
ISBHF president
This past weekend I had the honour of becoming the third President of the ISBHF.
I believe that as a player and coach I have always strived to play ball hockey in a skilled and team way. Now I have a chance to work with all the great leaders of our sport throughout the World who love the game like we all do. I met some great people in Paris. And I would like to thank the representatives of all our member nations who voted me in on behalf of ball hockey players around the World.
This is an honour I will handle with the honesty and hard work that made me a successful player and coach. I want to share the main keys that I will strive to work with my fellow board members to make this game better around the World.
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