Big Phil
Registered User
- Nov 2, 2003
- 31,703
- 4,146
What are the most heartbreaking losses Canada had that hurt you the most at the WJC?
In no order here come some to mind:
1987 - Imagine beating your arch-rival enemies the Russians by two goals and being that close to the Gold Medal when a bench clearing brawl erupts. Let's face it Russia was out of contention that year and they were the first ones to clear their bench for whatever reason. Bert Templeton coaching the Canadian team that year had no choice but to empty his bench. heartbreaking since Canada lost in '86 to the Russians as well. Canada ends up being disqualified as well as Russia.
1999 - Canada was playing so well and Luongo looked like a man posessed. But they were playing one of the best Russian teams ever. I was so pumped when Bryan Allen tied the game with 6 minutes left. What a weak shot that was though. And Luongo made a beauty save off the faceoff with 30 seconds left in regulation. Russia took the play in OT and won in OT. I felt sorry for Luongo, he deserved it more than anyone. This was the start of Canada's unability to beat Russia which continued until 2005.
2002 - This one hurt badly too. Look at that roster Canada had. Spezza, Weiss, Nash, Bouwmeester, Hamhuis, Upshall, Kobasew, Boyes, Cammaleri, Stoll, Leclaire in net. Almost every player has played or plays in the NHL on that team, its amazing. But somehow a Russian team with Medvedev in net beats us. Here the killer he gets pulled in that game too. Canada had 2-0 and 3-1 leads. But Russia wins 5-4. How many goals went through Leclaires legs in that game like 4? I'm still mad about how the Russian backup goalie knocked the net off with about 2 or 3 seconds left. Its funny cause before he celebrates after the buzzer he looks over at the ref first as if to see if he's getting a penalty shot against him. That realy irks me.
2003 - Much like 1999 in Winnipeg I was hoping they would win this one for the fans in Halifax. Canada played perfect. The game against Finland pitted MA Fleury against Lehtonen. Fleury schooled him. But Canada ran into a very good Russian team, Ovechkin, Zherdev, Perezogin, Grigorenko, Polushin, Trubachev, and Fleury's two third period goals he allowed gave them a 3-2 win.
2004 - This loss to the USA in the gold medal game shouldnt all be pinned on Fleury. Yes he had shabby goaltending in that game, but Canada built a 3-1 lead going into the third and in the start of the third Ryan Getzlaf had a for sure goal and so did Crosby going in on a two on one. But neither one scored. Then the USA gets two and ties it and then Fleury banks the puck off Coburn and in. It made you wonder if we werent cursed at this tourny. What bugs me about this one is that in 2005 we never got to play the USA at all. It would have been sweet revenge. I mean no one and I mean no one in the History of the WJC team would ever have beaten the 2005 Canadian WOrld Junior team.
In no order here come some to mind:
1987 - Imagine beating your arch-rival enemies the Russians by two goals and being that close to the Gold Medal when a bench clearing brawl erupts. Let's face it Russia was out of contention that year and they were the first ones to clear their bench for whatever reason. Bert Templeton coaching the Canadian team that year had no choice but to empty his bench. heartbreaking since Canada lost in '86 to the Russians as well. Canada ends up being disqualified as well as Russia.
1999 - Canada was playing so well and Luongo looked like a man posessed. But they were playing one of the best Russian teams ever. I was so pumped when Bryan Allen tied the game with 6 minutes left. What a weak shot that was though. And Luongo made a beauty save off the faceoff with 30 seconds left in regulation. Russia took the play in OT and won in OT. I felt sorry for Luongo, he deserved it more than anyone. This was the start of Canada's unability to beat Russia which continued until 2005.
2002 - This one hurt badly too. Look at that roster Canada had. Spezza, Weiss, Nash, Bouwmeester, Hamhuis, Upshall, Kobasew, Boyes, Cammaleri, Stoll, Leclaire in net. Almost every player has played or plays in the NHL on that team, its amazing. But somehow a Russian team with Medvedev in net beats us. Here the killer he gets pulled in that game too. Canada had 2-0 and 3-1 leads. But Russia wins 5-4. How many goals went through Leclaires legs in that game like 4? I'm still mad about how the Russian backup goalie knocked the net off with about 2 or 3 seconds left. Its funny cause before he celebrates after the buzzer he looks over at the ref first as if to see if he's getting a penalty shot against him. That realy irks me.
2003 - Much like 1999 in Winnipeg I was hoping they would win this one for the fans in Halifax. Canada played perfect. The game against Finland pitted MA Fleury against Lehtonen. Fleury schooled him. But Canada ran into a very good Russian team, Ovechkin, Zherdev, Perezogin, Grigorenko, Polushin, Trubachev, and Fleury's two third period goals he allowed gave them a 3-2 win.
2004 - This loss to the USA in the gold medal game shouldnt all be pinned on Fleury. Yes he had shabby goaltending in that game, but Canada built a 3-1 lead going into the third and in the start of the third Ryan Getzlaf had a for sure goal and so did Crosby going in on a two on one. But neither one scored. Then the USA gets two and ties it and then Fleury banks the puck off Coburn and in. It made you wonder if we werent cursed at this tourny. What bugs me about this one is that in 2005 we never got to play the USA at all. It would have been sweet revenge. I mean no one and I mean no one in the History of the WJC team would ever have beaten the 2005 Canadian WOrld Junior team.
