World Juniors Final RECAP: Trent Frederic goes all the way off, Canada wins gold

Bronze Medal Game: USA wins as Trent Frederic scores 4 goals on their way to a 9-3 demolition of the Czechs.

So hey! the USA medals for the third consecutive year! It’s a bit disappointing because they don’t go to the gold, but this mollywhopping was a real fun bit of catharsis for a squad that got embarrassed in the Semifinals by Sweden.

Oh yeah, and that Trent Frederic kid decided that he had enough of being kind of a “there” talent and had a hat trick. You can read about that over yonder.

A Few Thoughts and Final US Bruins Prospect Update:

1. The Czechs once again proved that defense is enormously important. Mostly by being a cautionary tale. ESPECIALLY while you’re on the power play because the USA could’ve had as many goals as they wanted to against them.
2. So hey! Trent Frederic is actually pretty good under the right circumstances, huh?
3. Jeremy Swayman finally got to play in this game, towards the very end. Swayman played perfectly fine, mostly dealing with a perfectly morally dead Czech Republic and shutting them out. Clearly this means he should’ve played sooner.
4. USA Bruins Prospect Final Tally: Trent Frederic finishes his tournament with 5 points in seven games, all of which are goals, which was good for 2nd on the team. His final night had him play 13 minutes. He will return to the University of Wisconsin. Ryan Lindgren finishes his tournament with an assist in 7 games, and his final game had him playing 21 minutes. He will return to Boston College. Jeremy Swayman actually played for once and shutout the very dead on the inside Czech Republic. So...progress? He returns to UMaine.
5. Congratulations to the US on winning their Bronze medal!

Gold Medal Game: Canada wins gold in tight, 3-1 contest.

It was close until it wasn’t. The best strengths of both sides were on full display and there couldn’t be a tight contest anymore. Canada called upon Tyler Steenbergen to break the tie and he answered. The Swedes got desperate, and paid for it.

A fantastic medal game if ever there was one.

A Few Thoughts and Final Swedish Bruins Prospect Update:

1. Dillon Dube opening the scoring by just tearing through Sweden’s defense was a special thing to watch.
2. Sweden’s Captain; Lias Andersson tossed his silver medal into the crowd upon being awarded it. I don’t particularly blame him. He worked hard to get to the World Juniors, and Sweden played Canada real damn hard, and still lost. Silver in the World Juniors is a participation trophy, regardless of how you feel about how a player should act upon receiving it or that he should be grateful right after a painful loss. If his response is that he doesn’t want a physical reminder of being that close to their goal but coming up short, then that’s his call. He’ll still be in the record books as a silver medalist regardless. He’s gonna take that fire to Frolunda in Sweden and Frolunda should be happy to see him ready to take out his frustrations on the rest of the Swedish Hockey League.
3. Besides, I didn’t hear anyone bitch and moan about Canada not shaking the American player’s hands last year.
4. Swedish Bruins Prospect Final Tally: Oskar Steen finished his tournament...by getting a game misconduct. He played 17 minutes in his final game and finishes with 4 points in 7 games (2 goals, 2 assists). He will return to Färjestad BK in Sweden.
5. Congratulations to Canada on winning the World Junior tournament outright and making me eat my own words and doubts on them!

Groups for next year in British Columbia:

Group A (Vancouver):

• Canada
• Czech Republic
• Russia
• Switzerland
• Denmark

Group B (Victoria):

• Sweden
• USA
• Finland
• Slovakia
• Kazakhstan

Thank you for your readership during this tournament. I look forward to doing this again at the World Championship and I hope you continue to read future stuff like this next year!