Team Canada sealed their 16th Gold medal at the IIHF Junior Hockey Championships Monday night with a close 5-4 victory over Russia.
More than 19,000 fans packed the sold-out Air Canada Centre in Toronto – many of whom were dressed in red and white.
Canada got off to an early start with a :23 marker from Anthony Duclair and then a second marker from Nick Paul at 2:32 to take a 2-0 lead over Russia.
The second period saw Canada holding a four-goal lead, but Russia quickly lessened the gap to make it 5-4.
Up until that point Canadian fans were cheering their way to an early Gold medal, but three goals in roughly three minutes against Zachary Fucale quickly shifted the momentum.
Canada kept the lead and battled through the remainder of the second period as well as the third to seal the Gold medal finish.
Rachel Wright, an elementary school teacher in Flin Flon, spent her Christmas holidays at home in Ontario and was able to take in a few of the 31 games played throughout the tournament.
It’s safe to say Monday night’s final was a favourite for Wright.
“Words could not describe the atmosphere in the Air Canada Centre last night. The noise, the sea of red and white in the crowd and the chants supporting Team Canada – the audience was definitely part of the team last night,” Wright said. “It’s unlike any live sporting event I’ve ever been to.”
Canada’s win was its first Gold medal since its 2009 win over Sweden.
Canada and Russia have now met eight times in the IIHF World Juniors for first place – leaving a tie between Gold and Silver for each team.
Canada took first place in 2005, 2006, 2007 and now 2015 while Russia took first place in 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2011.
Canada has found itself fighting for Silver eight times since the tournament’s inception in 1977 and five times for Bronze.
Since 1977, Canada has hosted the tournament 11 times with the schedule already set for 2019 and 2021 to come back to Canada.
