OTTAWA, ON – Canada’s National Junior Team has captured the gold medal at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship, defeating Sweden 5-1 on Monday night at SBP Arena in Ottawa. Canada has now won five consecutive gold medals, and 11 consecutive medals overall, at the IIHF World Junior Championship.

PK Subban (Toronto, ON/Belleville, OHL) sparked the Canadian team less than a minute after the opening face-off, pushing a loose puck past Swedish netminder Jacob Markstrom, and Angelo Esposito snapped a quick backhand over the shoulder of Markstrom to double the lead through 40 minutes.

Cody Hodgson (Markham, ON/Brampton, OHL) made it 3-0 on a Canadian power play early in the third period and, after the Swedes had got on the board, Hodgson and Jordan Eberle (Regina, SK/Regina, WHL) scored into the empty net and rounded out the scoring.

Following the game, the IIHF Directorate award winners and media all-star team were announced.

John Tavares (Oakville, ON/Oshawa, OHL) was named Top Forward and Most Valuable Player by the IIHF Directorate and also earned a spot on the media all-star team. Hodgson and Subban also earned spots on the all-star team.

IIHF Directorate award winners:

Top Forward – John Tavares (Canada)

Top Defenceman – Erik Karlsson (Sweden)

Top Goaltender – Jacob Markstrom (Sweden)

Most Valuable Player – John Tavares (Canada)

Media all-star team:

G – Jaroslav Janus (Slovakia)

D – Erik Karlsson (Sweden)

D – PK Subban (Canada)

F – Nikita Filatov (Russia)

F – Cody Hodgson (Canada)

F – John Tavares (Canada)

TSN, TSN HD and TSN.ca, along with RDS, RDS HD and RDS.ca, carried the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship live, airing December 26 to January 5 from Ottawa. Rogers Television in Ontario carried Group B action from the Ottawa Civic Centre.

Canada has now medaled at 11-straight IIHF World Junior Championships, including gold medal performances in 2009, 2008, 2007, 20, silver medals in 2004, 2003, 20 and bronze medals in 20.

Members of Canada’s National Junior Team will be returning to their hometowns and/or club teams on Tuesday, January 6. Here is the final destination itinerary for January 6.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please note that flights may change without notice.

LISTED ALPHABETICALLY BY FINAL DESTINATION (REVISED ON )

– ALL TIMES LISTED ARE LOCAL

Please note the following revisions from January 3 news release: Halifax, Mont-Joli, Montreal and Saint John final destinations removed.

Final destination Flight Arrival Time Players, Staff members

Abbotsford, BC WJ 121 12:59 p.m. Brett Sonne

Calgary, AB AC 113 11:05 a.m. Dr. Ian Auld (Team Doctor)

Calgary, AB WJ 671 1:45 p.m. Zach Boychuk, Thomas Hickey

Edmonton, AB AC 193 11:00 a.m. Tyler Ennis

Kelowna, BC WJ 257 11:00 a.m. Jamie Benn, Tyler Myers

Kelowna, BC AC 8395 1:50 p.m. Jeff Thorburn (Therapist)

London, ON AC 7727 10:32 a.m. Doug Stacey (Therapist)

Medicine Hat, AB AC 7243 3:07 p.m. Willie Desjardins (Assistant Coach)

Quebec City, QC AC 8746 9:53 a.m. Frédéric Chabot (Goaltending Consultant)

Regina, SK WJ 314 2:19 p.m. Jordan Eberle, Colton Teubert

Saskatoon, SK WJ 104 3:05 p.m. Dustin Tokarski

Sault Ste. Marie, ON Bear 377 2:15 p.m. Andy Martin (Equipment Manager)

Toronto, ON AC 445 10:08 a.m. Cody Hodgson, John Tavares, Alex Pietrangelo

Toronto, ON WJ 671 10:52 a.m. Stefan Della Rovere, PK Subban

Vancouver, BC AC 163 10:08 a.m. Pat Quinn (Head Coach)

Vancouver, BC AC 181 12:55 p.m. Evander Kane

Windsor, ON AC 7753 1:14 p.m. Ryan Ellis

Winnipeg, MB AC 263 2:12 p.m. Keith Aulie

Winnipeg, MB WJ 475 2:38 p.m. Chet Pickard

U.S. destination:

Minneapolis, MN NW 1835 10:12 a.m. Cody Goloubef