I grew up playing hockey. That’s what a good Canadian kid is supposed to do. Appreciation for Canada’s official winter sport is instilled in many from a young age. We all remember our first Calgary Flames game, or even an exciting WHL game growing up, but when the World Junior Hockey Championship come to town, you know you are in for something special.
I was lucky enough to be accredited for this year’s Juniors, and spent half a dozen days down at the ‘Dome watching the under-20 best players in the world battle for one of hockey’s most prestigious prizes.
After going unbeaten in the round robin play, Team Canada looked strong heading to Calgary for the semifinals.
Out of the seven or eight games I attended, the second most exciting game came on Jan. 2, for the quarter-final matchup between the Czech Republic and Russia. This game saw only two goals scored in regulation after a 60-minute duel between Czech netminder Petr Mrazek and Russian goalie Andrei Vasilevski. Being surrounded by Russian fans, listening to the chants in their native language, was what made me realize this was really a worldwide affair.
It took only two minutes of overtime for the Russians to advance to the semifinal, one night later, against the Canadians.
Jan. 3 is a date 19,289 people won’t be forgetting soon, not to mention the countries watching on television. I arrived to my photo position, 21, about 10 minutes before puck drop. The environment in that building was electric. A gigantic Canadian flag was making its rounds, chants of ‘Go Canada Go’ were buzzing before a single skate hit the ice.
I had chills.
Unfortunately, I watched Russia play a great game the night before, and Canada gave up the gold medal the year prior to the Russian club, so there was a challenge ahead of them.
When the Russians struck twice in the first period, things were looking within reach, but as soon as they had a five-goal lead midway through the third, things looked out of reach.
A handful of fans left after the sixth Russian goal, and I still wonder what they thought as soon as they got out of the building and Dougie Hamilton potted the first of four comeback goals in the span of under five minutes.
The Saddledome was buzzing again. Those in attendance, watching around the world, and from photo position 21, were watching what could have been the most incredible comeback in junior hockey history.
But it wasn’t to be this year. Ryan Strome hit the post with 20 seconds to go and, in the end Canada, would play for bronze.
The marketing message of this year’s World Junior Hockey Championship was ‘I Was There.’ It took a few games, and higher stakes to realize what I was witnessing, but I am glad to say ‘I Was There’…in photo position 21.
