WJC: Top Tournament Memories?

Aaron Vickers

FCHockey
Mar 4, 2002
6,431
188
Calgary, AB
www.nhlentrydraft.com
Inspired by our latest blog, I'm curious to know what some of your most favourite World Junior Championship memories are! We've counted down ours!

10. The Great One with a great one – 1978
In his first opportunity to represent Canada on the global stage at the 1978 World Junior Championship in Montreal, Wayne Gretzky did not disappoint.
While The Great One recorded an incredible eight goals and 17 points in just six games to help Canada to a bronze medal finish, the best came on Christmas Day for Gretzky, where one of his most spectacular tallies came as part of a three goal, three assist performance at the expense of Czechoslovakia.
On an end-to-end rush, the 17-year-old Gretzky (then wearing number nine) beat four defenders before undressing the Czechoslovakian goaltender to cap off a six-point night.

9. Dion Phaneuf introduces himself – 2004
Playing with the Western Hockey League’s Red Deer Rebels, heavy hitter Dion Phaneuf hadn’t had much of an opportunity to introduce himself to the rest of the hockey world until the 2004 World Junior Championship in Helsinki, Finland.
In his first taste of the national spotlight, Phaneuf electrified Canadian fans with strong defensive play and bone-jarring hits. No hit was bigger than in a game against the Czech Republic. With the score 3-1 in Canada’s favour and just two minutes remaining in the second period, the Edmonton native caught Rostislav Olesz cutting across the middle with his head down., obliterating the forward.
Phaneuf was assessed an elbowing major on the play while Olesz suffered a concussion and a broken jaw.

8. Johnny on the spot – 2009
Looking to step up throughout the 2009 World Junior Championship in Ottawa, the then draft-eligible John Tavares set the stage for one of Canada’s biggest comebacks, and on New Year’s Eve no less.
Quickly falling behind to the Americans 3-0 after the first period to a strong USA squad – Canada’s first deficit of the tournament – the host team looked lost and disoriented. Cue Tavares’ surge. Tavares scored to bring the game to 3-1 then, on his next shift, took advantage of a stickless Ryan McDonaugh, walking around the defenseman and beating American goaltender Thomas McCollum over the glove to bring Canada within one. The sudden momentum provided by Tavares lifted Canada to a 7-4 victory.
Canada rode that performance into the medal round, eventually setting the stage for some magic from Jordan Eberle in the semi-finals and an eventual gold medal victory.

The rest here. Putting all ten would clutter the hell out of this thing!:
http://futureconsiderationsdotca.wordpress.com/2009/12/19/wjc-top-ten-most-memorable-moments/
 

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