Can Team Canada Do It?

The Boxing Day ritual for myself and many others is to get together with a group of friends at a restaurant, sports bar, or someone's place that has a big flat screen TV and settle in for the opening day of the World Junior Hockey Championships.

Some people will wear Team Canada jerseys, others will wear red and white, some won't need to dress their support but it is obvious and well understood that everyone is cheering for Team Canada hoping that a talented team of young Canadians can dominate the world in what we like to believe is "our game".

Touting a lengthy unbeaten streak and even an impressive shutout record, this year's team definitely has big skates to fill. To follow up the performances of the past two years is no small task. I don't know that this team is talented enough but I will still cheer and support as I always do.

While watching the opening game against the Czech Republic on Boxing Day at the Pardubice Arena, in the 2nd period, I distinctly remember looking over at a friend and we both had wide-eyed expressions and a shrug as if to say "Is this all we've got?". They certainly were not exciting offensively and the chances they created were few and far between. Defensively, they were much better and the goalie, Jonathan Bernier, looked to be that saviour of the Canadian team this year.

It doesn't seem like this young team has the fire that the previous couple of teams had, the deft passing, the domination of puck control, the exciting breakouts, or the bone-jarring hits (Although I'll give Sutter credit for trying to set the tone but by the end of the first game, I'm sure he was feeling all the bumps and bruises he created and took)

Admittedly, it must be tough for this team to follow the past couple of teams with players such as Sidney Crosby, Ryan Getzlaf, Jonathan Toews, Mike Richards, Dion Phaneuf, Patrice Bergeron, Shea Weber, Brent Seabrook, etc. I thought the same thing last year looking at the Team Canada roster but after a truly inspired and undefeated tournament, I thought maybe you didn't need to have star-power to win. Then again...sometimes you do.

The game on Saturday against Sweden was not actually a surprise to me seeing Team Canada in a struggle late in the game. An unfortunate period of frenzy saw the Swedes score three times in just about 5 minutes shook the Canadians and they were able to pull a goal back late in the game. I think the whole country breathed a sigh of relief and figured OT was coming and Canada could take care of business but a careless turnover by Brad Marchand, a Hammonds Plains-native followed by terrible defensive choices on the Swedish breakout left Tobias Forsberg with one of the easiest goals of his career right at the end of the period and a game-winner too. I will mention however that Marchand earlier in the game had one of the nicest goals of the tournament and hopefully he can put a few more away in upcoming games.

There are definitely some bright spots on the team such as Jonathan Bernier, Stefan Legein, Kyle Turris, Steve Stamkos, and John Tavares who is still not even draft eligible this year.

The expectations are always high for Team Canada and sometimes that can be overwhelming for young players. We need to remember that these young fellas are only teens. They have the ability, they have the talent, they have the support, and I believe they have the heart. They put away Denmark 4-1 yesterday in a game without much meaning and will be playing in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Get out your red and white.

"Gotta support the team". David Putty says the face painting is optional.