BY SCOTT HADDOW
In the biggest game of their lives so far,
Sudbury Wolves players Marc Staal and Ben Pouliot delivered
solid performances to help Team Canada win gold at the 2006
World Junior Championship (WJC) with a 5-0 win over the
Russians on Thursday night.
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Marc Staal, centre, celebrates with
Blake Comeau and Steve Downie during the first period
of Canada's 5-0 romp over the Russians during the
gold medal game. Staal was named the Top Defenceman of
the tournament.
Photo credit: Hockey Canada |
In the championship game, and in every other
game Canada played, Staal was an absolute force.
For his superb defensive efforts and
unrelenting play, Staal was named the Top Defenceman of the
WJC, the first time a Wolves player has ever took those
honours.
The Thunder Bay native absolutely dominated
the play when he was on the ice during the gold medal game,
shutting down Russian superstar Evgeni Malkin.
Hockey experts and fans across the nation had
there doubts about the Canadians chances of beating a highly
skilled Russian squad, but good old fashioned Canadian grit
took over and help Team Canada win its second straight gold
medal.
Canada got rolling at the star of the first
period when super pest Steve Downie threw a huge hit in the
opening sequence to send a stern message that the game
wasn't going to be nice.
The first period was one of the most
electrifying moments in hockey history.
End-to-end action with plenty of big hits and
wild plays.
Staal was all over the ice as he pounded and
grounded Malkin into submission every time he had the
puck.
Downie scored on a wrap around late in the
first period to give the Canadians the big lead.
Staal then intercepted a pass in the neutral
zone, which Sudbury fans have seen him do a thousand times, fed
the puck into the Russian slot where Blake Comeau banged home
his own rebound to give Canada a 2-0 lead after one
frame.
I lost my voice at the end of the period from
shouting and freaking out because of the intense action.
Canadian goalie Justin Pogge was unbelievable
making save after save. He would end the game with 35 saves
overall.
The second period was closer and tighter and
with some controversy. The Russians scored a goal, but it
happened so fast no one saw it. Play resumed without a call for
video replay. On the next play, the goal was reviewed, clearly
showing it go in, but because of International Ice Hockey
Federation (IIHF) rules, the goal couldn't count.
The break was all Canada needed as they sewed
up the game with two more goals by Michael Blunden to go ahead
4-0.
An interesting note was how the Russians
stooped to a cheap level by going after Downie's right ear
(Downie is deaf in the ear and wears a hearing aid). In a
scrum, a Russian player smacked Downie's helmet off and
pawed at his ear. A few shifts later, the Russians went after
Downie's ear again, but he had enough and punched one
player in the groin twice and another in the chest.
The Russians didn't go after his ear
again.
Staal was a force to be reckoned with in the
second frame as well, continuing his unforgiving play against
the Russians by blocking shots, taking the body and stopping
plays before they even happened.
Staal proved he is without a doubt the best
defenceman in the world not playing in the NHL.
The third period was more of the same, as the
Canadians just engulfed the Russians. Staal continued to
smother any attack when he was on the ice.
Captain Kyle Chipchura scored the final goal
to give the Canadians the 5-0 victory and their first gold
medal win on home ice since 1995 when they won first place in
Red Deer, Alb.
The celebration afterwards was mind-boggling
as fans went crazy. It sent chills up my spine as our National
Anthem was played loud and proud.
For Staal, it's his second elite
international gold medal as he won gold with Team Ontario at
the 2004 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in 2003-04.
It was definitely a WJC to remember!
