2011 WJHC - Russia stuns Canada for gold, USA wins bronze

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

From the beginning of the 2011 World Junior Hockey Championships (WJHC) and right up until the end, the quality of performance and character of the participants at this tournament was brightly highlighted on Wednesday night as Team Russia fought back and stunned Team Canada with a 5-3 win to steal the gold medal at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, NY. Leading 3-0 after two periods, it seemed as though Team Canada was ready to ascend back up to its lofty perch in WJHC supremacy, but was stunned in the final period by being outscored 5-0 to lose the gold medal game for the second consecutive year. The comeback win by Team Russia, just as much as the collapse of Team Canada, truly illustrated the unpredictable and exciting nature of the WJHC as the world's top young players competed against one another once again and did not provide for boring and expected results.

Team USA finishes on the podium

Team USA ensured that it finished with a medal as it beat Team Sweden 4-2 in the day's earlier preview game building up to the gold medal shocker. Team USA's Chris Kreider, who stated after losing to Team Canada in the semi-final game, that his team "did not play USA Hockey", led his team to the podium with two goals over Sweden. Winning the bronze medal provided USA Hockey with its first consecutive medal finish at the WJHC and fourth medal in 10 years.

Not a bettor's game

With eight returning players, Team USA was considered a favorite to repeat as gold medal winners, and were undefeated through group play. Teams such as Russia, Sweden, and even Finland were not to be overlooked, let alone Switzerland, but the focus was on Team USA and Team Canada, the 'local' favorites to capture this year's championship. However, the WJHC are about endurance and skating until the final seconds tick down on the clock - Team Russia's play during the third period and winning the gold medal game couldn't have exemplified this point more.

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

Maybe it was too much enjoyment and celebration too early by Team Canada and its fans as they expected to win - and why not. Holding a 3-0 lead with one period left to play is a secure situation to assume that if you continue competing  the way you did during the first two periods, you will win. However, it was forgotten that Team Russia was a team that had a 2-0 lead in its semi-final match-up with Team Sweden, and it too had lost the lead early in the third period. Russia had to fight back to tie and win the game in a shootout in order to have the opportunity to contend for the gold. They knew how to play a strong third period, and that is what they did once again, this time against Team Canada to win the gold medal.

Future of hockey looks even brighter

When the puck first dropped at this year's WJHC, Team Russia's NHL five competing prospects might not have been getting as much notice and recognition for their performance as those of Team Canada, Team USA, or Team Sweden's roster. After Wednesday night's gold medal finish, Team Russia should find that many of its players will get ample attention leading into the 2011 NHL Draft. Many may consider that Team Russia's unexpected comeback provided a dull polish to this year's tournament, but it has actually provided a shinier finish heading into the 2012 WJHC.

Just as this year's WJHC might have had some strong assumptions for a traditional ending to take place, next year's tournament comes on the heels of three tournament years that have had three different champions (Canada, USA, Russia). Good luck to the prognosticators on attempting to choose a favorite. It will be a lot of fun.

Rest assured, the future of hockey shines bright.

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