Team Russia's Decisive Moment

Gary Caven
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FEA.065.03
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January 5, 2003
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Russia’s decisive moment in the gold medal game of the 2003 IIHF World Junior U-20 Championship came at 11:09 of the third period. The Canadians finally fell victim to their lack of ability to clear their own zone when Alexander Polushin fed Yuri Trubachev to the left of team Canada’s goal and he fired it by best goaltender of the tournament Marc-Andre Fleury, breaking a 2-2 deadlock, and effectively winning the gold for Team Russia.

In what had been a hard-hitting and wildly exciting affair, Canada seemed to have the measure of Team Russia for long stretches of the game, but the Russians’ speed to the outside was more than the Canadian defence could handle. This was all the advantage the defending champion Russians needed to stretch their forwards and begin to force the play.

Canada seemed to have problems with getting the puck out over their blueline for much of the latter half of the game, often content with bouncing pucks and errant passes. It seemed only a matter of time before it would catch up to them, and at 11:09 of the third period, it did. Giving Russia the gold medal, and their decisive moment of the game.

For more information:

Esther Madziya
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 284-6484 

[email protected] 

Spencer Sharkey
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 777-4567

[email protected]

Jeremy Knight
Manager, Corporate Communications
Hockey Canada

(647) 251-9738

[email protected]

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