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View Full Version : AAU Junior Olympics -- Tuesday, July 1



RichardGraham
07-01-2008, 11:05 AM
Hi Folks,

Back at it at the Sportsplex. Team USA is playing against Team Colombia in a Junior World Championships quarterfinal matchup at the moment, now that both national anthems have been played. By all rights, this will probably be a blowout in favor of the USA. Just 4:14 in, USA draws first blood, going up 1-0.

A Team USA power play... two shots miss the net, third is shot too low, pad save... Colombia escapes unscathed. But a few seconds later, at the halfway point of the 15-minute first half, Team USA scores at full strength -- 2-0.

Colombia gets a power play, but mostly passes it around the perimeter, never taking a shot. Team USA takes over, and Colombia picks up a penalty of its own, nullifying the team's one-man advantage. After some three-on-three play, Team USA gets the man advantage for 45 seconds, and with two seconds left in the power play, scores to make it 3-0. That's how the first half ends.

Just 42 seconds into the second half, Team USA scores on a pretty give-and-go -- 4-0.

[One thing that I'm not enamored of is the smaller "international" nets used for the Junior World Championship games. I'm curious to know what Inline Hockey Central's readers think about them. That said, I'm sure that the goaltenders must appreciate then. ;)]

Colombia gets a rare opportunity to shoot the puck... and misses the net wide. However, on power play midway throught the second half, Colombia gets a goal on a redirected shot from the point; 4-1.

Colombia's players seem energized by scoring that goal; can they get some momentum from it? Apparently not. Team USA scores on another sweet give-and-go. 5-1.


With 2:14 left, Team USA makes it 6-1 on an unassisted slapper from the slot.

With 1:06 remaining, Team USA scores again. 7-1, and that's how the game ends. I'm guessing that while Team Colombia is not happy to have lost by six goals, they are probably happy that the margin of defeat was not greater.

eXpress19
07-01-2008, 12:03 PM
Hey Richard,
I'm playing on the US 18U Jr. Team so thankfully we do not have to use those nets... Everytime I shoot I go for the top corner and with those nets it seems pretty impossible. I do not understand why the best players in the tournament are using the smallest nets, I guess to make it more difficult to score? But yeah the American JWC is a very good, strong, fast team and I look foward to watching them play some more great hockey! Thanks for the game summary also.

Matt Nielsen

RichardGraham
07-01-2008, 12:14 PM
Hi Matt,

Thanks for your post. If you get a chance, come upstairs to the Ace Jerseys booth and say hello. It would be great to meet you. Good luck the rest of the way. [My grandfather, from Copenhagen, Denmark, was named Marc Nielsen. My middle name is Neil, the spelling changed to protect the innocent.] ;)

RichardGraham
07-01-2008, 12:25 PM
Hi Folks,

There's a wild game going on below me as Team Canada takes on Team Mexico in a 18 & Under Division Junior World Championship quarterfinal game.

Team Mexico took an early lead, much to the joy of its supporters in the grandstands. A second goal caused the cheering volume to increase, and a 3-0 lead put their fans into near delirium.

I overheard one spectator say, "Canada's got to slow it down."

Shortly after, a second-half power play for Mexico backfired, as Canada scored two shorthanded goals to tighten the score to 3-2. Shortly after, Team Canada scored to tie it up, and then got another to take its first lead of the game, 4-3.

Time is now working against Team Mexico, as there are only two minutes left in the game, and Canada appears to be controlling the play. With 1:26 left in the second half, Team Mexico gets called for tripping (much to the displeasure of the Mexican coach and bench), so it looks dark for the Mexican team at the moment. With 47 seconds left to go, Canada scores an insurance goal to make it 5-3.

And that's how the game ends. Mexican players hang their heads in disappointment, but they should hold them high, because they almost pulled off an incredible upset. Viva Mexico! And congratulations to Canada for a great comeback!

Rzorbck
07-01-2008, 12:34 PM
Hey Richard - how about going over and asking them to update their website with scores. Doesn't look like any have been put up since last night. I'm specifically wondering how the Tour Stealth in 16AAA did last night, and I think they are getting ready to play their first one today. Thanks.

RichardGraham
07-01-2008, 12:40 PM
Hi Dave,

The score was a 2-2 tie.

Rzorbck
07-01-2008, 12:44 PM
Thanks Richard. If you get a chance to watch their upcoming game, let me know how that one goes too. I think it's supposed to start right now.

Will you be in San Jose too?

RichardGraham
07-01-2008, 12:49 PM
After the Mexico/Canada game, I did a few interviews. Talking to Team Mexico Coach Juan Carlos Hernandez, I said, "I'm sure that your players are very disappointed, but they should be proud of themselves."

"Oh, yes," said Hernandez. "That's what I told them. They lost like heroes. To put 3-0 to Canada? Oh, yeah! It's a real victory for us, in a sense."

Team Canada fan Melony Duclos said it was nervous time for pro-Canada spectator.

"We were all sitting in the stands, biting our nails."

Team Canada Coach Dave Wilkinson admitted that he was a bit nervous when Mexico had a three-goal lead.

"I was a little bit nervous," Wilkinson said. "I didn't want to be the first Team Canada coach to lose to Mexico. But the game changed when we were shorthanded. Team Mexico had been clogging the lanes to the net, so when we were a man down, it opened up the floor. I also shortened my bench. It was an awesome game, and it was great for the fans."

That it was.

RichardGraham
07-01-2008, 12:53 PM
Hi Dave,

Sure, I'll do my best.

As for NARCh, I'm not sure yet. Daryn would like me there, and I'd like to be there, but it's all budget $tuff, ya know?

Rzorbck
07-01-2008, 03:09 PM
Any idea how that second Tour Stealth game went? Did the Colorado boys hold their own?

RichardGraham
07-01-2008, 03:26 PM
Hi Dave,

The Stealth defeated Revision Black Ice, 2-1. I did not get a chance to see the game.

RichardGraham
07-01-2008, 07:23 PM
Hi Folks,

One drawback to taking a lot of photos is that you have to go through them to edit, crop and resize them. ;)

The next few posts will include photos from three games: Hong Kong vs. Great Britain (10&U); Germany vs. Great Britain; and Namibia vs. the Czech Republic.

RichardGraham
07-01-2008, 07:24 PM
More photos...

RichardGraham
07-01-2008, 07:27 PM
A few more...