HOCKEY CANADA
1999 IIHF World Junior Championship
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Wednesday, January 6, 1998 Despite expert opinions saying it couldn't be done, Canada finished with a medal at this year's World Junior Championship in Winnipeg. After a strong performance against an unbeaten Swedish team, Team Canada couldn't quite tackle Russia, losing a little more than 5 minutes into overtime by the score of 3-2.Next year in Sweden, Ukraine will join Pool A, and Belarus will be relegated to Pool B. Slovakia surprised most with their spirited play and bronze medal win over heavily favoured Sweden. The organization and professionalism of the Winnipeg Host Committee was outstanding, and the crowds were awesome. Congratulations on a new World Junior Hockey Tournament record attendance of over 170,000 spectators. Friday, January 1, 1998 Canada couldn't take top spot in their pool, after losing 5-2 to the USA in their final game of the round robin. This left Canada in second spot, and will mean the Canadians meet Kazakstan in quarter-final action on Saturday. Other match-ups will be Russia against Finland in the other quarter final, with Sweden and tournament discovery Slovakia getting the byes directly to the semi-finals. USA, Czech Republic, Belarus and Switzerland will battle in the Relegation round to stay in the A Pool for next year's championship in Sweden. Wednesday, December 30, 1998 Surprising Slovakia beat the defending champion Finland last night in Pool A action. Canada takes on the Czech Republic and tries to keep up with Pool leaders Slovakia. The Slovaks, Canada and Sweden are the only unbeaten teams left in the Round Robin, with Slovakia leading at 2 wins and 1 tie. Tonight, Sweden meets Belarus, who are coming off a 10-0 loss to the Russians. Tuesday, December 29, 1998 The National Junior Team turned a 3-0 lead into a 6-4 win last night at the sold-out Winnipeg Arena. After a physical and dominating first period, Team Canada held the Finns off with Roberto Luongo's brilliant goaltending and some consistent goal production. Canada scored two other goals, one disallowed by an early substitution, the other by a goaltender interference penalty. To get the whole up-to-the minute statistical story, go to the official World Junior Hockey Web site. Canada is tied with Slovakia with 1-1-0 records atop Pool A. The Czech Republic and Finland have 1-0-1 records followed by USA, winless at 0-0-2. Team Canada will play the Czech Republic on Wednesday, at 7:00 pm at the Winnipeg Arena. Tune your browser to the World Junior Hockey site or to TSN.ca for all the coverage you want. Sunday, December 27, 1998 The National Junior Team tied Slovakia 0-0 as Roberto Luongo starred in net. Slovakia now is unbeaten in two, with Canada having an 0-1-0 record. Saturday, December 26, 1998 The National Junior Team finished their pre-competition camp with a win over Finland in Kenora.Team Canada will start the World Junior Championships in Brandon, Manitoba, tomorrow at 2:00 pm against Slovakia. Wednesday, December 23, 1998 The National Junior Team continued their pre-competition camp with a win over last year's silver medalist Russia. Scoring for Canada, Rico Fata had a pair, Daniel Tkaczuk, Harold Druken and Tyler Bouck. After Canada took a 3-0 lead midway through the second period, the Russians stormed back to tie in the third. Fata scored his second of the game with 5:02 left in third, which proved to be the game-winner. Tkaczuk scored his second in two games as insurance with 0:20 left. Fata finished with 2 goals and an assist to lead Canada.Team Canada will finish off their pre-competition schedule against last year's gold medalist, Finland, tonight at 7:30, again in Kenora, Ontario. Sunday, December 20, 1998 Tom Renney has announced that the captain of the 1999 Canadian National Junior Team will be Mike Van Ryn, second-time National Junior Team member. Mike was also a member of the Canadian National In-line hockey team that brought home gold from Anaheim, California this year at the IIHF In-line Hockey World Championship. Mike, selected 26th overall by the New Jersey Devils in 1997, plays for the University of Michigan. Friday, December 18, 1998 WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--Canada's National Junior Team this morning announced their 22 man roster for the
upcoming 1999 World Junior Championships. Released today were goaltender Kenric Exner of
Regina, SK, defencemen Jonathan Girard of Joliette, QC, and Scott Hannan of
Surrey, BC, and forwards Mike Comrie of Edmonton, AB, and Matt Zultek of
Mississauga, ON, head coach Tom Renney announced. Thursday, December 17, 1998 By DONNA SPENCER The Canadian Press WINNIPEG (CP) -- The Canadian junior hockey team released Portland Winter Hawks goaltender Jason LaBarbera and forwards Scott Barney of the Peterborough Petes and Eric Chouinard of the Quebec Remparts today. Twenty-seven players remain in camp, including three goaltenders, nine defencemen and 15 forwards. Coach Tom Renney must cut five players by Friday to get his roster down to 22. LaBarbera struggled early in camp and allowed more goals during intra-squad games than the other goaltenders: Roberto Luongo, Brian Finley or Kenric Exner. "It's hard, any time you get cut or released," he said. "I kind of knew it was coming. I kind of struggled." Barney came into camp on a hot scoring streak with his junior club, but was unable to continue it this week. "I wasn't getting the goals scored. I couldn't bury one," he said. Chouinard said he was told his defensive game was not as good as some of the other players. "When you come you always think you have a chance to make that team," said Chouinard. "It's bad, but I'm going back to Quebec and I hope I can do it next year." Team Canada meets the University of Brandon Bobcats in an exhibition game tonight. Wednesday, December 16, 1998 By DONNA SPENCER The Canadian Press WINNIPEG (CP) -- Canada's national junior team reduced its roster by four players today, releasing Regina Pats forward Brett Lysak, Kamloops Blazers forward Mike Brown, Tri-City Americans forward Dylan Gyori and Brandon Wheat Kings defenceman Burke Henry. The first round of cuts after three days of training leaves 30 players, four goaltenders, nine defencemen and 17 forwards, at the team's selection camp in Winnipeg. The roster will be pared down by Friday to the 22 players who will represent Canada at the world junior hockey championship in Winnipeg from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5. Henry, from Eddystone, Man., was the lone Manitoban in camp. "Naturally I'm disappointed right now," said Henry. "I would have been excited to play here. "I understand the way this goes and I still hope for the best for the team." Coach Tom Renney, assistant coaches Claude Julien and Stan Butler, and Canadian Hockey director of scouting Barry Trapp will continue to evaluate players in tonight's exhibition game against the University of Manitoba and in Thursday's game against the Brandon University Bobcats. |
