The sound inside the Centre Bell in Montreal told you everything you needed to know about the outcome of the gold medal game at the 2017 World Junior Hockey Championship.
As Nicolas Roy of Team Canada carried the puck across the blue line on what would be the final shot in the shootout, he faked and then tried to deke, but the puck slid away from him and was stopped by the right pad of Team USA goalie, Tyler Parsons.
And after a collective gasp, the entire building fell silent. Parsons admitted afterwards that he didn’t even see the puck. He knew he had stopped the shot based on the reaction he didn’t hear.
It was Canada’s 31st medal in 41 World Junior tournaments, but it was one of the toughest to accept.
At that point something like, “There’s always next year” sounded a long way away.
But now, next year is about to arrive.
Team Canada will begin their quest for 2018 World Junior Gold in London, Ont., tonight.
This year’s tournament doesn’t officially begin until Boxing Day in Buffalo, so Canada’s matchup against the Czech Republic will not count in the standings, yet it is a vital part of Canada’s preparation.
When Sherry Bassin convinced owners in the early 1980s to give up their best player or players for a month so that they could represent their country at the World Juniors, the issue of chemistry entered into the equation.
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At that point, Canada stopped bringing a team who knew each other and began to put together the best of the best of players aged 19 and under to compete for gold. With just a few days to get everyone on the same page, bonding exercises and then pre-tournament games become vital.
Canada tends to name a final roster early, as they did on Dec. 15, while other countries sometimes use their exhibition matchups to make final selections.
Three of those selections have local ties. London Knights captain Robert Thomas has made the team. So has Knights’ forward, Alex Formenton. Former Knight, Victor Mete has been loaned to Team Canada by the Montreal Canadiens.
Thomas admits the adjustments have been very smooth so far.
“You’re playing with guys from leagues you have never played with,” says Thomas. “Everyone is really skilled here, so that does make the transition pretty easy.”
Mete not only had to adapt to new players around him, he had to get himself back to the pace of junior hockey.
“I have had a lot more time than I thought I would. In the NHL you have to make your plays right away.”
Mete has four assists and is a plus-five in 27 games with the Canadiens.
Formenton began the year in the NHL as well, as a part of the Ottawa Senators, before being sent back to the Knights. This is the first time he has represented his country.
“I have never played internationally before,” says Formenton. “It’s been unbelievable to put the Team Canada logo over your head and then to come into the room afterwards and see it. It’s definitely special.”
As much as there isn’t a medal on the line, the Czech Republic still has roster spots to figure out.
They are expected to be led by Jakub Skarek in net. He is one of the top goaltending prospects for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. They also have a few names familiar to junior hockey fans. Filip Helt played last year for the Sarnia Sting, Albert Michnac is having an excellent season for the Mississauga Steelheads after playing last year in Guelph and Ondrej Machala is playing his second year with the Niagara Ice Dogs.
Canada will once again be one of the favourites to win gold at the tournament.
They are led in goal by Carter Hart of the Everett Silvertips, who played in last year’s gold medal game in Montreal.
Returning forwards Taylor Raddysh, Michael McLeod and Dillon Dube will be joined by Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting. He leads the Ontario Hockey League in scoring. Tyler Steenbergen of the Swift Current Broncos leads the WHL in scoring and is part of this year’s edition.
On defence, Jake Bean returns as a cornerstone and might be teamed with Mete on Canada’s top pairing.
Dante Fabbro was expecting to return but suffered an injury that will keep him out of the tournament. He has been replaced by Josh Mahura of the Regina Pats.
Team Canada will play Switzerland on Friday in a second pre-tournament game before meeting Finland in their opening game on Dec. 26.
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