The gold medal game at the 2012 World Junior Championship should be an intriguing match-up as it features the two countries that did battle in last year's deciding game, the USA and Sweden. The U.S. took the gold last year with a dramatic overtime win over the Swedes, so Sweden comes into this game with revenge on their mind.
Sweden
2012 U-18: USA, Sweden earn byes heading into WJC playoff round
 Photo: Forward Kerby Rychel of the OHL's Windsor Spitfires has had a productive U-18 WJC tournament, but he and his Canadian teammates had a disappointing preliminary round (courtesy of Aaron Bell/OHL Images)
The preliminary round of the IIHF 2012 U18 World Championships concluded with a bang as the US downed Canada in yet another classic episode between the North American rivals. A back and forth tilt was ended when Matt Lane popped in an empty-net goal in the 60th minute, his second point of the night and sixth of the tournament. Gunning for Gold: A Look at the Gold Medal Favorites for the 2012 U18 Tournament Photo: Goalie Andrei Vasilevski has a good chance of being the first goaltender to be drafted in to the 2012 NHL Draft. (Photo courtesy of Imago/Icon SMI) The 2012 IIHF U18 Tournament is upon us and, as in recent years, has the international scouting community licking its chops. This year's edition once again features a number of young men representing their country on the international scene who will hear their names called at the 2012 NHL Draft in Pittsburgh. For many of them, this tournament will be the pinnacle of all their work this season and will leave a lasting impression – whether good or bad – in the minds and notebooks of what should be well over 120 NHL scouts in attendance. For all of them, this event will be an opportunity to go out and give it everything they've got for their native country, a motivation that often has no rival in the minds and hearts of 16-18 year olds. But which country will benefit most from that attitude? What teams can least afford to take a night off? Which players should be pushing the hardest for a victory in the tournament's final game? Here's what you can expect from the frontrunners for a gold medal at the 2012 IIHF U18 Tournament. Video: 2012 World Junior Championship – Gold Medal Postgame Sights and SoundsIt had been 31 long years, but Sweden finally cracked the code and won the gold medal at the 2012 World Junior Championship. The win didn't come easily, with Russian goaltender Andrei Makarov making sure that his tired teammates remained a threat into overtime. But it was Sweden's Mika Zibanejad that would decide this contest as he swooped in on Makarov in the overtime to score the biggest goal in Swedish hockey in many years. Video: 2012 World Junior Championship – Johan Gustafsson, SwedenAlthough he struggled at times during the 2012 World Junior Championship, Sweden goaltender Johan Gustafsson came through for his team when they needed it most. Gustafsson shutout Russia in his team's 1-0, overtime win to give that country its first gold medal at the WJC in 31 years. Gustafsson talked about winning gold following the win over Russia. Read more» |
