Five Alive!

As you may know by now, Canada's drive for five is complete with a 5-1 victory over Sweden on Monday night. The win gives the Canadian juniors it's fifth straight gold medal, which ties the country's record of five consecutive titles in this tournament set between 1993 and 1997. Canada's 15th gold at the world juniors also tied Russia/Soviet Union for the all-time lead. Take that you former Commies!

There was immense pressure on this team to win a fifth gold medal and do it on home ice. But the majority of Canadian players were making their first and only appearance in the world juniors and they just wanted their gold medal.

"Coach always stressed this was our story," said John Tavares who was tied for the tournament lead wiith eight goals. "It's obviously special to be a part of the fifth, but it was never about tying the record. It was just getting a gold for everyone and winning on home ice for all these Canadians."

Goaltending had been a question mark all through out the tournament but it was not at all an issue on Monday. As Dustin Tokarski of the Spokane Chiefs rose to the occassion, only allowing one goal on 40 shots, and backstopping Team Canada to the gold.

"Tokarski was very good tonight and I was happy to see that because there was some question in the other games," Head coach Pat Quinn said. "But tonight he was one of the keys ... because he made some key saves when he had to have them."

Each of the last three years, it looked like the run of gold could be over. There was a semifinal shootout win versus the U.S. in 2007, an overtime win against the Sweden last year and another narrow 6-5 shootout victory against Russia in this year's semifinal.

Canada was only five seconds away from playing for bronze versus Russia when Jordan Eberle tied the game.

"It's the heart and our passion for the game of hockey," said Tavares. "No matter is what is thrown at us, or what people say, or the adversity we face we learn how to deal with it and we become so close as a team. We really learn how to be strong as 22 guys playing as one."

Check out the video highlights below, complete with Swedish goalie Jacob Markstrom's soccer-like diving all over the ice, and singing of "O, Canada." As James Duthie said during the broadcast on TSN, "The original lyrics of 'O, Canada' never contained the word 'woooo!', but tonight it fits."

[Source]