WJC- Russia wins gold; U.S. rally for bronze falls short

[Don Cherry]

Sunday, January 5

Russia comes back vs. Canada; Finland wins bronze

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Associated Press


HALIFAX, Nova Scotia -- The United States lost to Finland 3-2 on Sunday in the bronze medal game at the World Junior hockey championship.


Russia rallied to beat Canada 3-2 to win the gold medal for the second straight year. Finland has its second consecutive third-place medal.


"It's a big thing in Finland because we've never won a medal before in Canada,'' Finland captain Tuomo Ruutu said.


Russia's Yuri Trubachev scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period to lift Russia. Andrei Taratukhin and Igor Grigorenko also scored for the champions and Alexander Perezhogin had two assists.


Canada squandered a 2-1 lead.


Dallas Stars' draft pick Jussi Jokinen, Los Angeles Kings selection Henrik Juntenen and defenseman Joni Pitkanen, the fourth choice in last year's draft by Philadelphia, scored for Finland.


Ryan Suter, nephew of former NHL player Gary Suter, and forward Dustin Brown scored for the United States.


Finland led 3-0 until the Americans scored twice within three minutes late in the third period.

[SkateZilla]

Russian Men Are ..
Never Mind.

I Shouldve Played For U.S.

Scouts need to Scout their asses off instead of just looing at colleges they need to look at the Leagues around the U.S.

[Ð]

Actually, I think the US scouts are doing a great job. The problem is lack of quality US players at the Junior level. While the US has a smattering of top-level junior players, most of the 2nd, 3rd & 4th line players would not have even made the Canadian, Russian or Finnish teams. The depth will come, as coaching in the US improves and more US players choose the developmental route of the OHL, WHL & QMJHL.

BTW, Russia's Alexander Ovechkin looks really good. He's too young yet for the NHL draft this year, but I think he'll go first overall in next year's draft. He didn't do himself any favours by rolling around on the ice like he'd been shot with an elephant gun to try to draw a penalty in last night's game though.