With Authority!

This is probably going to be one of the most ballsy articles I have ever written on this blog. I have a great amount of respect for the work that the USA Hockey has done in getting their programs up to a world-class standard, and I am humbled by the American teams that show hustle, determination, and a doggedness in pursuing a win from the opening whistle to the final horn. American hockey, in the last decade, has come a long, long way, baby.

That being said, Team Canada put on a display unlike anything I've seen over the last few tournaments in their domination of their arch-rivals tonight at the World Junior Championships. I've never seen the outright punishment that Canada delivered to the Americans accepted so easily, and - it hurts me to say this - how quickly the American speed and skill folded under this intense pressure brought by Canada in the game.

I want to be clear: I still hold the Americans in high regard. Their program has not only made the Canadian program better, but the Americans are putting the world on notice that, like their Canadian counterparts, only gold is acceptable in this tournament. That standard is making their program better and, thus, the programs of other countries around the world need to step up to match it. Good on USA Hockey for that, and I commend them for their efforts in turning a good program into an elite program. Americans should be proud of what USA Hockey has done in a very short time.

However, what Canada did tonight in front of a very large pro-Canada crowd was, in essence, like sacking the White House. Canada - both the players and the fans that flocked south to Buffalo - came into the HSBC Arena, knocked around the heavily-favoured American team, and left with a convincing victory over what some, including yours truly, had deemed the best team in the tournament. That, readers, is domination. With authority.

With the 4-1 win over Team USA tonight, Canada has a date set with another old foe as Russia defeated Sweden in a shootout to advance to the gold medal final. If Canada can play another full sixty minutes of hockey against Russia in similar fashion to what they did against Team USA, Canada will most likely start another gold medal run in the World Junior Championships. GO CANADA GO!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!