This Ain't Goin' Down Well In The Great White Up

Canada... long the power in world junior hockey with five consecutive gold medals... loses the championship game to Team USA last night in Saskatoon.

A furious third period comeback was all for naught as John Carlson scored the overtime winner to give Team USA a 6-5 victory over Canada in the gold medal game at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.

The victory clinches only the second gold medal for the Americans in tournament history and snaps Canada's streak of five straight gold medals.

After the game Carlson was elated that he was able to come through in the clutch and beat a talented team.

"They're a feisty team, they're a great team and it was unbelievable playing them on New Year's Eve and now here it was just play our game," Carlson told TSN. "We know they're going to get chances and score goals, that's how good they are. We just needed to play our game and tonight it worked out."

When asked the difference between this team and previous American teams that appeared to be stocked with more talent, Team USA head coach Dean Blais gave a tip of his hat to the hosts.

"We played Canadian hockey," Blais stated.  "We played gritty."

Yup.  Beat 'em at their own game... always a good strategy.  Congrats Team USA!  Read the entire article here, if'n ya care.  

On another, yet related note... I'm thinkin' we may not be so lucky in the upcoming Winter Olympics... but that's another story and one we'll talk about here at EIP in due time.