Thanks for a great tournament

Just want to say thanks for the great work Ottawa did with this tournament, it was top notch all way through. Also want to thank all the fans who regurarely filled the arenas during the most odd games of the tournament. :handclap:

It's certainly been interesting to watch, some players have just skyrocketed on my ranking. And it's been interesting to read peoples thoughts here, new and fresh point of views is always fun. But I must say it has been very disappointing to read a few posters comments here during the entire tournament, luckily it has been limited to a little bunch of posters so you quickly manage to look away from the dirt among all the great posts on the board! :nod:

This was one of the best WJC's I've seen. Tons of great games from many different countries. Regina is going to have a tough time besting this year, although if we get a glimpse of 'Rider pride turning into hockey pride, we're in for another great atmosphere next year.

Nice to see "Hockey Country" come through with passionate fan support.

Ottawa is a hockey town, through and through!

This was the best junior tournament I've ever seen. The 2004-2005 tournament in North Dakota was special thanks to in large part to the high caliber of world class players (Ovechkin/Malkin/Crosby/Kessel) and we finally broke the goose egg that year, but this tournament was every bit as exciting and competitive for my liking.

My top 3:
1. 2009
2. 2005
3. 2003 (we didn't win gold but Halifax was ROCKIN like I've never seen before. Seriously, I've never seen a crowd like that before a game. I was literally shaking watching it.)

I was rooting against Canada, and even I can't say I'm disappointed with the result of the tournament. Very exciting this year, and a top-notch effort from Canada who absolutely deserved the win.

I thought what was impressive was the high-calibre of competition amongst the top teams.

Canada had to go through USA, then Russia, then Sweden and all three teams put up a heck of a fight.

Much more memorable and thrilling.

Hopefully it's a sign of things to come in upcoming years as well, where we don't just have 2 favorites every year duking it out.

These games were played at such a high level. Watching NHL hockey immediately after makes you realize how hard those kids are skating.

There's so much more heart in the world juniors than there seems to be in the NHL and other world competitions. That's what makes it so great. So much national pride they'll go down to block everything.

Just want to say thanks for the great work Ottawa did with this tournament, it was top notch all way through. Also want to thank all the fans who regurarely filled the arenas during the most odd games of the tournament. :handclap:

It's certainly been interesting to watch, some players have just skyrocketed on my ranking. And it's been interesting to read peoples thoughts here, new and fresh point of views is always fun. But I must say it has been very disappointing to read a few posters comments here during the entire tournament, luckily it has been limited to a little bunch of posters so you quickly manage to look away from the dirt among all the great posts on the board! :nod:

I just want to see and not trying to be an ass here, but from Batman, I get the impression Gothenburg is always dark. Though, I'd love to be like "Yeah, I lived in Gothenburg" Gotta be one of the coolest names for a place ever.

I just want to see and not trying to be an ass here, but from Batman, I get the impression Gothenburg is always dark. Though, I'd love to be like "Yeah, I lived in Gothenburg" Gotta be one of the coolest names for a place ever.

Batman lives in Gotham, which is a fictional city based on NYC.

Batman lives in Gotham, which is a fictional city based on NYC.

Yeah. Maybe it's just me, but Gothen, Gotham, it's close...

Batman lives in Gotham, which is a fictional city based on NYC.

I call shenanigans.

In the movie, "the Dark Knight", the police cars clearly have "GPD" written on their doors.

Doesn't sound fictional to me.

Yeah. Maybe it's just me, but Gothen, Gotham, it's close...

Yeah, ok I can see it now.

Even though the Swedes lost, that was one great final to watch, especially the third period.

I also want to say; congratulations Canada. You were the best team in the tournament, and I'm impressed with how you put together a great team while still having players in the NHL who could have played. The whole tournament has been a pleasure to watch, and for that I thank you.

Once again, congratulations.

Say what you want about the final, the outcome and everything, it was an excellent tournament and alot of thanks to the city of Ottawa and Canada as a whole for the hosting of the tournament, world class. :)

the organizers did an outstanding job, and what fans! I had just as good a time at USA-Germany, USA-Czech Republic, and various round-robin games at the Civic Centre as I did at the Canada-Czech game, and I think it says a lot about the tournament as a whole. And sitting in the 200s for the 5th place game I couldn't go more than 10 minutes without looking up to the top corner of section 320, where I was sitting for Canada's semi-final. Hard to say it as a transplanted southern-ontarion but I love hockey in Ottawa, and I'll never forget the good times I got to experience at this tournament.
Maybe the most, well poetic moment in my life, after getting home from Canada-Russia I got my dog and grabbed my skates and stick from the garage, and was walking toward the outdoor rink near my place when I actually saw the lights shut off. I just kind of shrugged and went inside to watch highlights over and over.
I've got a few friends in Saskatoon and Melville, I'm going to try my best to make it to next year's offering as well.

I'm obviously a big Oiler fan, but if Eberle doesn't make the NHL next year, the place is going to go craaaaazy for him in the next juniors.

I'm obviously a big Oiler fan, but if Eberle doesn't make the NHL next year, the place is going to go craaaaazy for him in the next juniors.

Wow really, Gagner is better than Eberle and even he's not having an impressive season, I cant imagine how Eb's would go.

This was a throwback tournament. Not sure what the goals per game average was, but it has to be one of the highest at the WJC in a long time. (Excluding lockout year tournaments).

In recent years, we've seen a lot of defensive struggle tournaments. A lot of 3-2, 2-1 type games. Especially involving the top teams. Not this year. The games were wide open, they were physical, they were emotional.

Canada scored 46 goals in six games. That might be close to our output from the last two tournaments combined. Granted, 15 goals came against Kazakhstan. But that's still 31 goals in the other five games. Eight against the Czechs. Seven (including two empty netters) against the Americans. Five in regulation against the Russians. Five (including two ENs) against the Swedes. The medal round (excluding the five vs. six game on Sunday) averaged 7.5 goals per game.

What does it mean? Hard to say based on just one tournament. 2008 was an excellent draft for forwards and defencemen. Not that great for goaltenders, at least not yet in their development. That was probably a factor. 2009 is another strong draft for forwards and defencemen, so we can probably expect to see another high-scoring tournament next year.

The organizers did an outstanding job and the fans in Ottawa were great, packing almost every single game with very respectable numbers, no matter who was playing. Being a Toronto area OHL and Leafs fan, it's nice to go to games where you don't feel weird if you don't sit on your hands and clap politely only at appropriate times. The tournament still lacks the party atmosphere of the World Championships, where the fans take to the streets in their jerseys all week long and people from all countries come together to celebrate outside of the arenas, but I guess that's hard to achieve when it's set up as a domestic tournament here and there is not much incentive for international fans make the trip.

Wow really, Gagner is better than Eberle and even he's not having an impressive season, I cant imagine how Eb's would go.

Yet at the same time Gagner put up basically 50 points in his first season and is starting to get back on track after a very slow start this year.

Wow really, Gagner is better than Eberle and even he's not having an impressive season, I cant imagine how Eb's would go.

Yeah I'm not saying he will, and I actually doubt it, but it's not so out of the question, right? That wasn't really the point of my comment, anyway, it's that if he plays he'll be a fan fav.