Slovakia stuns U.S. at world juniors

by James Mirtle on Jan 2, 2009 5:01 PM CST Comment 11 comments

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Down goes Team USA at the world juniors in another big upset. An unheralded team from Slovakia just dusted off the heavily favoured Americans 5-3 in the tournament's first quarter-final game, and now has a semi-final date with Sweden.

And, believe it or not, Slovakia's headed to a medal game, win or lose.

This is a team that was picked in every single preview to be playing in the four-team relegation round and which has just three returning players from last year's team. Seven players on their roster are born in 1990 or 1991 and many wear full cages.

Slovakia has medalled at the world juniors just once, a bronze in 1999.

The U.S. now is essentially eliminated, with only a fifth-place game left to play against the loser of tonight's Russia-Czech Republic game. The winner of that quarter-final faces Canada tomorrow night in the other semi-final.

There was a pretty interesting match-up in goal in this one, with Jaroslav Janus getting shelled in the Slovak goal and coming up big and Thomas McCollum having a very tough game for the U.S. McCollum was a first-round pick by the Red Wings in 2008 and was supposed to be a difference-maker in the tournament, while Janus finished dead last in the OHL in goals-against average among regular starters last season.

McCollum, meanwhile, is one of the top netminders in the OHL with the Guelph Storm, a team in the same division as Janus's Erie Otters. They're certainly familiar with each other.

In tournaments like this, where it often comes down to one game, you're going to see upsets. And this one was just about as big as they come.

Sweden and Canada are now the heavy favourites to win gold.

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Wow

I was shocked when I heard this on the radio on the drive home.

Congrats to the Slovaks.

by ShaneG on Jan 2, 2009 6:14 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Meanwhile...

Because Slovakia beat them on Wednesday, Finland lands in the relegation round. WTF.

by Doogie2K on Jan 2, 2009 6:58 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

It was going to be a down year for Finland, but I doubt they get relegated.

by James Mirtle on Jan 2, 2009 7:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I didn’t think they’d get relegated, but I was surprised that they didn’t even make the quarterfinal.

by Doogie2K on Jan 2, 2009 7:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That game against the Slovaks went into a shootout… hard to really fault Finland for losing the coin flip.

by James Mirtle on Jan 2, 2009 8:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Right, I’d forgotten that was an SO. Fair enough, then.

by Doogie2K on Jan 3, 2009 1:31 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Should probably also clarify that my larger point was about Slovakia playing spoiler, which means that Sweden should watch their asses tomorrow.

by Doogie2K on Jan 2, 2009 7:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Finland has a remarkably horrible 1989 class and had ten players born 1990 or later. Too many guys that were either too young or too talentless. When your best forward unit has players that are three, two and two years under-age (1992 born Granlund, 1991 Rajala and Nattinen) you aren’t going to be successful no matter how talented those youngsters are. Defense is the biggest problem as replacing talentless d-men with youngsters is more difficult (seeing how they develop later).

But no relegation, no question about that. The goaltending is still good and the kid line showed against Latvia that they can beat weaker opposition and make them look stupid in the process. And with Latvia destroying Germany, I guess the opposition will be weaker than that.

by Malurous on Jan 2, 2009 7:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

As far as USA-Slovakia goes, whoah. Really. That’s an incredible achievement for a Slovakian squad that’s not supposed to have a good roster. Huge difference in goaltending, huge difference in playing as a team, as well as team spirit. Slovakian celebrations after both this and the Finland win have been something to witness. They remind me of Slovakia’s only men’s world championship and the players’ sheer joy afterwards. Why are the Slovaks happier than anyone (Ovechkin not included) when they win? It makes you feel good just watching it.

by Malurous on Jan 2, 2009 8:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

You’re right. Their celebration was great to see after the game; makes you want to keep rooting for them against Sweden.

by James Mirtle on Jan 2, 2009 8:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Either the US seriously underestimated the Slovaks and couldn’t change gears when they needed to or they were still emotionally spent from the game against Canada. They did not have any of the intensity that they had on Wednesday. Janus was lights-out and every great save just deflated the Americans a bit more. Instead of pulling McCollum when it might have made a difference, Rolston pulled him with over two minutes left in the game. He did get one goal from this strategy but not before Slovakia pumped in an EN.

The Slovak celebration was worth the price of admission. You could hear the team singing their national anthem from the 200-level.

by hockeycountry on Jan 2, 2009 10:33 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

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