Dave Cameron did a great job coaching this team; Canada went to the Gold Medal game. You could question his selection process, but everyone bought into it. For the most part, it was successful. To disregard this, means you aren't thinking straight.
However, I do agree with the OP about certain aspects of Dave Cameron, and he's to blame mostly. He sold an entire system on sheer size, grit and determination against speedy, skilled players.
This Canadian team could have easily been made for the Russians, and they showed that they were. The Canadians played the same amount of ice time, and are the same ages like the Russians, so being out gassed probably is not an excuse.
The problem in the Gold Medal game, where it counts, is that Dave Cameron simply didn't follow through with his own game plan. Instead of directing his players to keep up the intensity, he sat back passively. The Russian coach, blasted his players with profanity in the second period, as mentioned by a Russian player.
Dave Cameroon instilled no leadership qualities, when it counted most, when it was his job to secure that 3-0 lead, and get his troops in position for the final assault.Dave Cameroon failed to read the battle field, he failed to act when his team was being pushed back, he failed to realize when his goalie was being assaulted and make a swap.
By the selection process and by his interviews we can see that Dave Cameroon is a safe guarded individual, who puts no risks when winning. His passive nature, was undone in 20 minutes, by a team that had more drive, more fortitude. What a coach says and does passes down to it's players, so if the players weren't passing, weren't checking, weren't following game plans, the onus is on the coach.
Canada was completely able to defend this 3-0 lead; yet the whole team fell apart. In 20 minutes, did Cameroon not realize this? What was he saying to his players on the bench, how was he juggling his lines. What was he doing?
You know every year we hear bad things about "bad coaching" when Canada dominates the Russians in the WJC, but no, because this is Canada, we can't say bad things about Dave Cameroon's bad coaching decisions.
Dave Cameroon started this team, he started strong, but in most things in life it's how you finish. The Russians finished with 5 unanswered goals, the Canadians finished with no answer, and the Canadian fans spend $250.00 on overpriced junior tickets.