Final Grades

I was going to write something about the game last night but I was too upset. I started to write something but it was filled with too many f bombs and spelling mistakes that I just went to bed instead figuring I would wait 24 hours and then write something with a clear head.

Well it is 24 hours later and I am still pissed.

It's not because they didn't win gold it was the way they lost and how they sucked everyone in.

Down 2 goals in the 3rd period with under 3 minutes to go and Canadian Hero aka Hockey Jesus aka Jordan Eberle scores twice to force overtime. Roping everyone across Canada in and making us all believe that another miracle could take place. Then it all came crashing down.

Alex Pietrangelo, who carried the defense, took a shot that was saved and rebounded right to the Americans so they had numbers going the other way. John Carlson ended up taking the shot and we all know what happened.

Stomach punch.

I would have preferred they got destroyed 8-0 rather than having them lose like that. It made the whole thing that much harder to deal with.

Going into the World Juniors everyone was talking about how this team wasn't everything it could have been. So many guys could have been there but weren't because they were contributing to their NHL teams. I personally didn't have faith in the team but after the 5-4 win on New Years Eve I was hooked. I thought there was no way we could lose the gold medal game. Not after we had broken their spirits on New Years with that win.

So like everyone else I hopped on the bandwagon and was making guarantees and calling anyone who questioned the talent of the team an idiot. Now all I can do is make excuses for why we lost and try and rationalize it. I won't play the 'too many NHLers didn't come' card because I feel like the team we sent should have been able to win.

In the end it came down to lack of execution and a tonne of players not showing up. So I am going to go through the roster one by one and give each player a grade and either explain my frustration with them or my praise for them.

Here are the final grades for the gold medal game:

Jordan Eberle - A+

Could he have played any better? No. he played the perfect game last night and did everything within his power to make his team win. Not only did he score 2 clutch goals and cement himself as the Hockey Jesus but he also played great defense and was money on the penalty kill.

There are not enough words to fully credit this kid for his play. The ultimate silver lining of the whole game was for Edmonton Oiler fans getting to see the future of their team in action.

Eberle for Prime Minister

Alex Pietrangelo - A

When Travis Hamonic went down with a shoulder injury during the Switzerland game everyone knew that Petro would have to shoulder the responsibility for Canada's defense. Last night he played an amazing game and showed tonnes of heart and desire.

The penalty he took at the end of the 1st was a soft call and unwarranted and even though he was on the ice for the eventual game winning goal I don't blame him. He didn't get back on defense because he played 98% of the 3rd period and was no doubt gassed beyond measure. The injuries really hurt Canada and it showed with Petro's fatigue.

Don't forget he got an assist on Eberle's first goal and also made tape to tape passes all night. He is a great player and should be proud for the game he played last night.

Jake Allen - F

Where do I begin with this choke artist? That butcher job he threw down on the dump in which led to the 4th goal was one of the worst plays I have ever seen. His inability to stop anything high glove side is inexcusable. He needs to make a public apology to Canada for that performance last night and he should not have been awarded a silver medal.

Needless to say he was the best American player on the ice last night.

Taylor Hall - B

Going into the tournament there was so much hype about this kid. People were saying he was as good as Stamkos and Tavares and is the next Crosby. I didn't see it. Yes he had 1 goal and 2 assists but if you actually watched the game you know he didn't play great. Too much individual stuff and not enough passing. He needed to stick with the gameplan instead of trying to deke around everyone. Was not impressed.

Brandon McMillan - A-

He was asked to play defense and forward and had a great game. He didn't make any glaring mistakes and showed that he is a versatile player that can step up when needed. Don't forget that Jared Cowen who was the 9th overall pick a year ago was healthy and sitting on the bench. McMillan was playing instead of him which shows you how good of a 2 way player he is. If not for Eberle he would have been my MVP.

Brayden Schenn - D

Correct me if I am wrong but wasn't this kid the 5th overall pick in the 2009 draft? He was a ghost all tournament and showed me nothing. Makes sense though when you consider that the Leafs wanted to trade up to get him. What's better than 1 duster named Schenn on your team? 2 dusters name Schenn obviously. Had high hopes for this guy but clearly he is riding his last name for all it's worth.

Say what you want about Luke Schenn, and believe me I take as many shots as possible, at least he was solid at the WJC. He and Thomas Hickey were the shutdown pair and did a great job. Brayden was awful and only succeeded against below average opponents.

Marco Scandella and Calvin de Haan - B-

Did a good job joining the rush when needed and played a solid game on defense.

Ryan Ellis - D

Does he realize that the D beside his name on the roster sheet stands for defense? This kid is a poor mans Brian McCabe. He played better last year. This year he was a ghost and mailed in game after game forgetting all the while that his job is to help keep pucks out of the net.

Nazem Kadri - D-

How many chances did this kid have to score like 984? If you watched the game there were countless times the goalie was down and out and Kadri didn't seal the deal. His refusal to pass also hurt the team as he continually tried to dangle around everyone (i realize he had 2 assists but if he passed more he could have had 4). The fact he and Hall were on the same line made no sense considering neither of them are play makers.

Someone teach this kid how to shoot one timers and also that when the goalie is laying on his back and you want to score you raise the puck off the ice. Aside from his shootout goal on New Years, which was unreal, he didn't impress me.

Luke Adam, Jordan Caron, Stefan Della-Rovere - A

These guys all played solid games. They were physical and even added some offensive punch. They provided some spark with the opening goal and played solid 2 way hockey. Della-Rovere didn't take a tonne of stupid penalties like he did last year and Luke Adam showed why he was given a starting roster spot after initially being named the 13th forward. Great game all around for this line.

Jared Cowen - F

He was originally in the starting 6 defensemen. Lost his job there and was forced to sit on the bench. The Travis Hamonic got hurt and the pressure was on him. Luckily for him he didn't have to deal with the pressure as he lost his job to Brandon McMillan, a forward. Rather . play a healthy defenseman who was drafted 9th overall by Ottawa last year, sucks to be them, Canada opted to play a forward on defense. Failure.

Martin Jones - B+

He was put in a tough spot when he came in to relive the abortion that is Jake Allen. He did a solid job throughout the game and made a key save that kept Canada in the game. The goal in overtime was pretty weak and I think he should have had it but had he played the whole game I think Canada wins.

Adam Henrique - C

Non-factor.

Greg Nemisz - C

Nice of him to finally wake the fuck up. This kid was playing on the top line all tournament and wasn't producing at all. His goal in the gold medal game was a huge fluke as a pass intended for Hall bounced off his skate and right on to his stick. DeJardins should never be allowed to coach again for allowing this kid to take away valuable minutes from other players who could have done better on the top line.

Let Eberle play with Hall and Kadri. Get this Nemisz kid out of here. He didn't even get a point in the 16-0 win over Latvia. Should that not have been a sign he sucks?

Patrice Cormier - D

I wonder if he used FedEx or UPS to mail in his performance last night (credit to Jebson). This guy is supposed to be the captain. He is supposed to lead by example. I guess he did in a way as he showed everyone else how not to play. I expected so much more from this kid and he really let me down.

That brings up another point. How was Eberle not the captain? I will never understand this decision.

Gabriel Bourque - C-

Finished with a -2 and dusted it up alongside Schenn.

Colten Teubert - F

He gets an F because he was the defenseman on the ice when Carlson scored to end the game. Yes he was the only one back and yes he did a good job cutting off the passing lane but in the end he will go down as the goat. When people look back at the footage he will be the one laying on his stomach as the puck goes in behind him.

This may seem harsh but I feel its fair. Plus he didn't play well the rest of the game either. Petro was the other defenseman on the ice when the game winning goal was scored but as I explained earlier he is being given a free pass by me.

Brandon Kozun - B

He came within 2 inches (aka the length of Draper's penis) from scoring when he hit the corssbar in the 3rd period. His speed was causing problems for the American defense all night and he did a good job back checking.

I don't understand how Canada lost this game. They had a team with all the talent in the world and you would think that scoring 2 goals within 3 minutes and forcing overtime would be enough to break the Americans and gain enough momentum to win.

I am still in shock and even 24 hours later I am still pissed. That is a game we should have won but we gave it away. Now I am not going to sit here and make excuses. Yes if we had brought all the NHL guys we would have dominated but we didn't so people need to stop playing that card. The fact is that a number of players didn't show up. They didn't want it badly enough and they didn't show the heart needed to be a champion.

Also people are saying things like, "a silver medal is still something to be proud of." Ask Jordan Eberle is he is "proud" of his silver medal. He may say yes to the camera but you know that he is pissed because he gave 100% and expected everyone else to do the same.

In Canada we expect to win gold at the World Juniors, and with good cause. We have the best team year in and year out and we won 5 gold medals in a row to prove that. 2nd place isn't good enough when you are the best. In Canada we should not be happy for settling with 2nd place. We should be pissed we lost.

You know who would be happy if they came 2nd? Switzerland. Is Canada on the same level as Switzerland? 2nd place isn't good enough for me and I am sure it isn't good enough for the players either.

I probably won't get over this loss for a long time and having to see highlights of the game pisses me off even more. Canada lost that game more than the US won it.

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