World Juniors Update
December 30, 2007 | Men's Hockey
In Saturday's action of the World Junior Hockey Championships in the Czech Republic, Team USA posted a win, while Canada fell for the first time in 20 WJHC games. With the help of Badgers Jamie McBain (Faribault, Minn.) and Blake Geoffrion (Brentwood, Tenn.), Team USA defeated Russia, 3-2, while Kyle Turris (New Westminster, B.C.) and Team Canada fell, 4-3, to Sweden.
For USA, Geoffrion picked up an assist on the game-winning goal in Saturday's matchup against Russia. With the win, its third of the tournament, Team USA is assured a spot in the semifinals on Friday, Jan. 4 against an undetermined opponent. The Americans will first face Finland on Monday, Dec. 31. Regardless of that game's outcome, USA will be granted a bye entering the finals round of the Championship.
Team Canada, the three time defending champion, had its 20-game win streak snapped by Sweden on Saturday. The Canadians were up 1-0 entering the third period, where both teams combined to score six goals. Canada scored two minutes in, but its lead was cut short as Sweden scored three goals in less than four minutes to earn a 3-2 advantage. With an assist from Turris, Canada tied the game at 16:18. But Turris and the Canadians were unable to contain Sweden, as Tobias Forsberg scored with just seven seconds remaining in regulation.
The Canadians, who had posted back-to-back shutouts in their first two games of the Championship, will look to regroup on Monday, Dec. 31 where they will face Denmark in their final round robin game. Denmark is winless in the 2008 WJHC.
