“That’s why I love the World Junior Championship Hockey. The swing of emotions; these are kids; they’re teenagers. Everything is more exaggerated and more extreme than in the NHL, the Olympics, the World Championships or anywhere else. Really high highs; really low lows.” – Bob MacKenzie, TSN hockey analyst after Canada’s 6-5 loss to Russia in the 2012 U-20 World Junior Hockey Championships on Jan. 3rd, 2012.
If anyone eats, breathes, and lives hockey during the winter holidays, it is Canadians. It is during this magical period that Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, & New Year’s Day basically pale in comparison to the Under-20 World Junior Hockey Championship. If you’ve ever been in Canada during this 2-week tournament, you quickly notice how much of the country stops at a standstill if there is a Canadian World Junior game on the television. It would be equivalent here in the United Kingdom of the World Cup, especially if any of the UK nations were perennial favourites. Literally, you bleed your country’s colours with every goal and save. This year proved to be no exception.
Before we go into this year though, a gentle history of this tournament should be presented. It is widely known that this tournament is a breeding ground for future NHL stars such as players Alexander Mogilny, Pavel Bure, Eric Lindros, Peter Forsberg (most points scored in a WJHC game with 10), Jarome Iginla, Alexander Ovechkin, John Tavares, Jordan Eberle, and Brayden Schenn, all of whom were named Top Forward in their respective tournaments (Schenn might be the most notable as you may have seen him most recently score his first NHL goal in this year’s Winter Classic). OBVIOUSLY Wayne Gretzky also won the Top Forward award at his tournament in 1978 but we all knew he was going to be a superstar long before the World Juniors (he was 16 when he won this award). Other top players to come out of the World Juniors include goalies Dominik Hasek, Jose Theodore, Roberto Luongo, Marc-Andre Fleury, Kari Lehtonen, & Carey Price, not to mention defensemen Teppo Numminen, Dion Phaneuf, Marc Staal, Erik Johnson, Drew Doughty, Erik Karlsson, & Alex Pietrangelo.
The Great One (Wayne Gretzky) at the 1978 WJHC as a 16 year old
Since its official inception in 1977, Canada has won this tournament more than any other nation by two (Canada’s 15 to Russia/Soviet Union’s 13 and not including this year’s tournament). Although Canada has 2 more Gold Medals to its credit, the Russian squad (formerly the Soviet Union in pre-1993 competition) has medaled the same number as the Canucks (27). The Soviet Union won 4 straight Gold Medals (1977-80) while Canada has twice won 5 straight Gold Medals (1993-97 and 2005-2009). Between their 12 Gold Medal game matchups in the 34 year old tournament, Canada has the advantage 7-5 in terms of winning the Gold. Needless to say, there have been some historic battles between these two hockey nations in this teenaged tournament.
A top 10 of Canada-Russia moments compiled by TSN for this year’s Russia-Canada battle on ice -
Some of the more famous games include the “Punch-Up in Piestany” where a bench-brawl occurred in Piestany, Czechosloviakia and the lights in the rink were turned off to try & restore order. Ultimately, the referees left the ice surface and the game was called. No surprise here that the captain of that year’s squad was Theo Fleury, a well-known NHL pest but a big-time player at the same time. He also played for the Belfast Giants a few years back here in the EIHL.
Punch-Up in Piestany
Video:
Another memorable gold-medal final was in 1999 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada where the Russians put the game-winning goal past Roberto Luongo at 5:13 of overtime to win glory on foreign soil. This game was especially memorable for myself as I was at that game in the old Winnipeg Arena, sitting to the left of the Canadian netminder, watching in disbelief as the puck went in low-glove side. The whiteout of people (see video) that night were completely stunned and speechless as there were more than a few tears shed by players and fans alike.
The overtime in 1999 (see OT goal at 4:35)
In 2005 in North Dakota, USA, Canadians stampeded over the border to this North Dakota college town to watch the Canadian “Dream Team” defeat the Russian “Dream Team”. 2005 was the year of the NHL lockout which allowed many players who may have been playing in the NHL to participate in the tournament, significantly raising the caliber of play. On the Canuck side, players included Sidney Crosby, Patrice Bergeron, Dion Phaneuf, Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, Mike Richards, Clarke MacArthur, Andrew Ladd, Jeff Carter, and Braydon Coburn. On the Russian team, players included Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Radulov, and Evgeni Malkin. At the end of the final buzzer, Canada came out on top 6-1 and the country celebrated.
(L-R): Patrice Bergeron (Boston), Ryan Getzlaf (Anaheim), and Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh) count down the seconds until they're Gold Medalists at the 2005 WJHC.
Sidney Crosby vs. Alexander Ovechkin at 2005 World Juniors
Most recently, in 2011 in Buffalo, USA, again throngs of Canadians stormed the 49th parallel border to see Canada play the Russians. Last year’s tournament was especially meaningful for me as good family friend and fellow Notre Dame Hound Jaden Schwartz was named to the Canadian squad (2011 1st round pick to St. Louis & currently attending Colorado College with older brother Rylan). While working hockey schools in Notre Dame in the summer of 2005, teammate Kris Fredheim (now a Minnesota Wild prospect) and I were drafted and being away from home, we weren’t really able to celebrate with our families but the Schwartzes were among those who helped us do so anyways. Anyways, Jaden is the brother of another Notre Dame and Yale alum, Mandi Schwartz, an incredibly young talented female hockey player who unfortunately was diagnosed in December 2008 with bone marrow cancer.
As we both came from the same hockey path by way of Notre Dame and Yale, Mandi & I shared a special bond and when her cancer relapsed (she beat it the first time through chemo) in April 2010, I helped spearhead a movement in Canada to raise awareness and sign up people to the bone marrow registry. A few other Yalies & I tried through many media outlets (Good Morning America, ESPN Sportscenter, USA Today, New York Times, Globe and Mail, etc.) to increase the understanding of how easy it is to sign up (literally a cheek swab – no drilling in your bones or anything as is the common misconception). We had 1000s sign up through the valiant efforts of hundreds of volunteers, all somehow connected to the hockey community.
Volunteers at our bone marrow registry drive in Regina, Saskatchewan in summer 2010. Between this location, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Oshawa, and Ottawa, over 5,000 people signed up to the bone marrow registry that summer.
Mandi was fortunate enough to find a partial match and receive a bone marrow transplant no less than 3 months before the tournament but while the family & Jaden were in Buffalo, they received word that the cancer had returned a 3rd time but hope still existed as the doctors were going to try an experimental treatment. While the rest of the family headed back to Saskatchewan to be with Mandi, Jaden (who had unfortunately broken his ankle) and Rick Schwartz, their dad, remained in Buffalo for the gold medal game. As there was an extra ticket available and I was playing only a few hours away in northern New York, Rick invited me to drive up to the game to which I happily obliged. Not too often does one get a chance to see a Gold Medal game, especially one in which your country is participating. Unfortunately, while at supper with Rick before the game, Rick received a text message from Mandi that the doctors had told her the experimental treatment was not working and that there was nothing left to be done for her. It is impossible for me to forget the next few hours as Rick and I wrestled with wanting to see Jaden and his teammates succeed while at the same time feeling so mad at the world for letting something like this happen to Mandi.
Jaden & Mandi together while Mandi was undergoing chemotherapy.
Unfortunately, despite being up 3-0 going into the 3rd, Canada lost 5-3 to the thwarting Russians. The loss of the gold medal was in the back of our minds though really – tears that night shed by my good friend Rick and I were not for a country but for the inevitable loss of a daughter and a friend. Jaden went home with a Silver medal around his neck that he gave to his sister to wear when he arrived home in Saskatchewan. Ultimately, less than 3 months later, on Apr. 3rd, 2011, Mandi passed away. Rick and I shared a few more tears as this time it was say goodbye to Mandi alongside over 1500 people who attended her funeral at Notre Dame, including the entire Yale Women’s Hockey team who flew up from Connecticut for the tearful bid adieu.
Mandi wearing Jaden's Silver medal upon his return to Saskatchewan from the 2011 WJHC tournament.
2011 World Junior Gold Medal Final Highlights
After last year’s substantial disappointing meltdown in the Gold Medal game against the Russians and our non-hockey related tragedy, Canada had a great chance to avenge their still-recent bitter defeat in the 2011 championship. More to the point, Jaden was named to the Canadian squad again, this time being elected captain of the team. It was an opportunity to avenge last year’s loss that he had to watch from the press box because of his injury and to also honour his late sister. Further, it is a huge honour to be named captain of the Canadian team that others like Theoren Fleury, Eric Lindros, Manny Malhotra, and Mike Richards have embraced. It’s recognition of not necessarily the best player on the team (Sidney Crosby was never captain of the Canadian World Junior team) but one that everyone rallies around and listens to when something needs to be said. Unfortunately, a few unfortunate tips off of defensemen’s sticks and some undisciplined play led to Canada being down 6-1. However, you should always know that in hockey, you can’t count out the Canadians - the boys in red stormed back to make the score 6-5, including a behind-the-net goal by my buddy Jaden. With a few minutes to go, the Canadians hit a post and the rebound seemed inevitable to go in but unfortunately didn’t. Final shots were 56-24 Canada. Russian goalies seemed to be a little bit better on this night allowing for Russia to head to the Gold Medal final, Canada (reluctantly) to play for the Bronze.
2012 Canada Captain Jaden Schwartz
2012 Canada-Russia Semi-final Highlights
What you can take away from all of this is that regardless of the last game against a certain opponent, you have to come back the next time and be even more competitive against them. Furthermore, when someone kicks you down, you have to get up and go after the next goal, the next win. You may have seen that the other night against the Fife Flyers as we avenged our loss in Kirkaldy a week ago in 2011 with our first win of 2012. Here’s to hoping we can continue the winning ways throughout the rest of the season and into the playoffs.
On a lighter note, I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year’s. On Christmas Eve the imports all gathered and Chris Zarb’s place where his wife, Paige, & he hosted us to a couple ice cold brewdogs, finger food, and “task-orientated” Jenga (or Stack-Em as it’s called over here). On Christmas Day, both my roommate Konkle & I Skyped with our families, who were both in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (mine at my older sister’s place and Konkle’s at his parents place – his mom works there now if you’re wondering why he says he’s from Ontario). Opening gifts via the internet isn’t necessarily the same as the real thing but it is better than nothing. We’re both very grateful that we got to at least share a few minutes of “face-to-face” time with our loved ones on such a special day.
Lastly, as you head into the New Year, I’d hope that you would consider one of your resolutions to be signing up for the bone marrow registry in your respective country if you haven’t done so already. As I mentioned in this post, my good friend Mandi Schwartz passed away because a perfect match could not be found for her (we couldn’t find one because of her diverse heritage). It is a very simple process that could ultimately save someone’s life. It involves swabbing the inside of your mouth with a Q-tip and filling out some contact information. If you are matched with someone (which could be anyone from anywhere in the world!), all you do is take some medicine to enhance the stem cell production in your body. Then a few weeks later, your blood is drawn, the stem cells are extracted, and your blood goes back into your own body. No painful huge needles into a bone or anything like that as most people believe. A very, very simple process that could save someone’s life, plus you are on the registry until you’re about 60 years old. This means that, even though I’m 25, 20 years from now, a 5 year old may be matched with my bone marrow and I could save his life. It literally is the gift of life and you are someone’s hero. From our bone marrow drives in Canada and U.S., we have already saved 6 lives and I’m sure there are more to come.
Here are the websites to sign up on in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K..
Canada - http://www.onematch.ca
Who knows, the person you save may turn out to be the next Wayne Gretzky. Or David Beckham. Or Michael Jordan. Or Tiger Woods. You won’t know though unless if you give them the chance of living by signing up.
Happy New Year and all the best in 2012. It could be your year to save someone's life and become a hero.
Brennan Turner
