Friday, January 7, 2011
Happy With Bronze
By Chris Peters – Special to USAHockey.com
Finishing in third place is disappointing for USA Hockey, the team and the fans. It’s not what many expected. Still, a group of 22 players pulled together and ended the tournament on the highest note possible, given the circumstances.
Instead of hanging their heads and going through the motions after a crushing loss in the semis, Team USA beat a very talented Swedish team, 4-2, to capture bronze. By winning its bronze medal, the U.S. accomplished something that’s never been done before in winning back-to-back medals at the World Junior Championship. Additionally, The bronze was also the first medal of any kind won by Team USA on home soil at this event. So there was some history made. For the eight returnees, they are the first players to have two sets of hardware. That’s a nice thing for these players to hang their hats on.
In addition to winning the bronze, Jack Campbell was given the directorate award as the tournament’s best goaltender and made the all-tournament team. He’s been the directorate award winner in each of the last two tournaments he’s played (2010 U18, 2011 WJC). He was deserving, to put it mildly. Clearly the best U.S. player throughout the entire tournament. A shame the offense couldn’t provide more.
For the Americans, there is some solace in bronze. They knew just how bad it would be with no medal. They get to leave this tournament on a bit of a high. Not the highest, but not the lowest.
Let me say this, Campbell was brilliant, but Chris Kreider was borderline heroic out there. He had some of the most blunt and honest answers to a question delivered by Billy Jaffe after the Canada game and he came back two days later with fire. He set an example not only with his two goals, but with the pride and passion he played with. He was outstanding in a game that was probably really hard to get up for. He got up for it and he delivered. His second goal was a thing of beauty. A flying water bottle to send the U.S. out on the right note? Nice touch, Chris.
There were a lot of bright spots out there. I thought Justin Faulk and Jon Merrill had great bounce back games. Nick Bjugstad regained his form after an abysmal game against Canada. Drew Shore’s goal was a result of getting to the net, which Team USA just couldn’t do at all against the Canadians (as was Bjugstad’s). There was improvement. That was pleasant to see.
At the end of each tournament, each team’s staff picks who they thought the team’s three best players were. For Team USA, it was Jack Campbell, Jon Merrill and Charlie Coyle. Can’t argue with those choices.
Now the U.S. will have to go into Canada next year and WILL have to play the Canadians in the preliminary round (Canada’s loss to Russia puts them in Group B). New Year’s Eve, I presume, the U.S. will get a crack at revenge, at least. Hopefully they’ve learned from the tournament this year and will be able to come into next year’s event ready to fight for gold.