Belarus opened the World Junior A Challenge in Camrose with a 4-3 win over Canada West in a shoot out. Check out more details here: http://ajhl.ca/news/2008/11/03/belarus-shocks-canada-west-with-shootout-win/
The headline implies that Belarus' victory is a shock. I don't think it should be. It's important to remember that while Canada West has age restrictions, Belarus can bring a team full of 19 year olds. They have 16 to Canada West's 5. Most of the CW team is made up of 90s and 91s. A year of growth and development makes a significant difference. Belarus is likely a bigger and stronger team. I know they were at last year's World Junior A Challenge in Trail.
In fact, having watched the game between Belarus and Canada West at that tournament, I'm not remotely surprised at the result of the latest match up between the two teams. Belarus lost 7-3 to Canada West, but the game was much closer than the score indicated. I've talked to several people who swear that were it not for the Canadian referees showing obvious favour towards their home team, that game would've been a tossup. Canada West had far more time on the power play and the game turned into a gong show at the end. The Belarusian team got so frustrated that they used their significant size advantage to goon the Canadians in a mini-line brawl in the third period. A couple of massive guys just started pounding on Brooks Robinson (now of the Powell River Kings) who looked like a pre-teen standing next to those monsters.
At one point the game was tied up at 2. Canada West needed two total fluke goals from Casey Pierro-Zabotel to get ahead 4-2 (and then 5-2 as CPZ completed his hat trick on the PP). Belarus still made it close with a goal to get to 5-3 before they took several more penalties and finally lost their cool.
Canada West was lucky to escape that game. If this year's team underestimated them because they're not known as a hockey power, they certainly won't ever do that again.
If you want to listen to how the game sounded at last year's tournament here's a link to the highlights of our radio broadcast:
Download Shawn Mullin - Canada West 7 Belarus 3 (2007 WJAC)
The headline implies that Belarus' victory is a shock. I don't think it should be. It's important to remember that while Canada West has age restrictions, Belarus can bring a team full of 19 year olds. They have 16 to Canada West's 5. Most of the CW team is made up of 90s and 91s. A year of growth and development makes a significant difference. Belarus is likely a bigger and stronger team. I know they were at last year's World Junior A Challenge in Trail.
In fact, having watched the game between Belarus and Canada West at that tournament, I'm not remotely surprised at the result of the latest match up between the two teams. Belarus lost 7-3 to Canada West, but the game was much closer than the score indicated. I've talked to several people who swear that were it not for the Canadian referees showing obvious favour towards their home team, that game would've been a tossup. Canada West had far more time on the power play and the game turned into a gong show at the end. The Belarusian team got so frustrated that they used their significant size advantage to goon the Canadians in a mini-line brawl in the third period. A couple of massive guys just started pounding on Brooks Robinson (now of the Powell River Kings) who looked like a pre-teen standing next to those monsters.
At one point the game was tied up at 2. Canada West needed two total fluke goals from Casey Pierro-Zabotel to get ahead 4-2 (and then 5-2 as CPZ completed his hat trick on the PP). Belarus still made it close with a goal to get to 5-3 before they took several more penalties and finally lost their cool.
Canada West was lucky to escape that game. If this year's team underestimated them because they're not known as a hockey power, they certainly won't ever do that again.
If you want to listen to how the game sounded at last year's tournament here's a link to the highlights of our radio broadcast:
Download Shawn Mullin - Canada West 7 Belarus 3 (2007 WJAC)
I do want to warn you though... I am more than a little over the top in this one! When Belarus launched their attack on Canada West in the third I kind of lost my cool. It's pretty funny to listen to. Also I'll note that the goals are a little out of order. Canada West went up 2-0 but for some reason the first Belarus goal is stuck between the first two CW goals in this package. It's a year old so I don't really remember. What I do remember was how much fun it was to be involved in the tournament. It's exciting, fast and passionate hockey. It was also great to see a packed house at the Cominco Arena for games like Canada West vs. Russia and the gold medal game. There was some talk of the event coming to Trail again in the near future. We can only hope!
Canada West battles Russia tonight in Camrose. Good luck to them, hopefully the game against Belarus served as a wake up call. If they thought Belarus was tough, Russia took them out 10-4 yesterday! There are no easy games in that tournament. Russia beat Canada West in an unreal game in the preliminary round last year. If that happens again our boys could be 0-2 and at risk of failing to defend their crown.
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