Tonight, Team Russia will face Madison Bowey‘s Team Canada to determine the winner of this year’s World Junior Championship.
As expected, this has caused some rifts in the Caps’ multi-national locker room.
Alex Ovechkin on who will win Canada -Russia WJC gold medal game: 'You ask me? Of, course, Russia.' #CapitalsTalk
— Chuck Gormley (@CharlesAGormley) January 5, 2015
Scarborough-born Joel Ward predicts 4-1 victory for Canada. Calgary native Mike Green: 'Canada. You expect me to say Russia?' #CapitlsTalk
— Chuck Gormley (@CharlesAGormley) January 5, 2015
New Jersey-raised John Carlson on his prediction for Canada-Russia WJC gold medal game: 'I hope they both lose.' #CapitalsTalk
— Chuck Gormley (@CharlesAGormley) January 5, 2015
It’s the first time these teams have faced off in the gold medal game since 2011, when Evgeny Kuznetsov helped cap an insane third period comeback for Team Russia (re-live this pass). In 2012 the teams played again late in the tournament. Afterwards, Caps Canadian Karl Alzner had to wear this fugly sweater after losing a bet to Alex Ovechkin.
On Monday, Ovechkin wouldn’t offer a specific prediction, but expressed confidence in his country’s success. “No score, just a win.” When the media asked if he had another bet going, he replied, “you’ll see if I have tomorrow.” Consider me excited.
Meanwhile, Karl Alzner, who has a future in analysis for TSN, was impressed by the skill level in general of the tournament.
“I think the main thing that we’ve been saying [in the locker room] is that it’s ridiculous [how good] all these players are,” the two-time WJC champion with Team Canada said. “I don’t remember being nearly as skilled as some of these guys, so it kind of makes you think, when they come to the league, you’re almost already watching what they’re doing there.”
When asked about talented Caps defense prospect Madison Bowey, Alzner believes this experience will really help the 19-year-old’s development.
“You’re not going to get much more pressure than that: playing in Canada on the World Junior team,” he said. “It’s the biggest stage for Canadian kids so it’s going to help him out a lot I think. He’s going to come here and he’s going to feel no pressure, well, sure, not no pressure but a lot less pressure than he will in his next game. So, it’s nice to see and just gotta continue playing the way he’s been playing.”
John Carlson spoke about how important his World Junior success was as a prospect (he scored the gold medal goal for the US in 2010).
“For me, I think, it kind of jumpstarted my professional career,” he said. “I played a few games [before WJC] but after that, I think, I came back with a little bit more confidence and felt a little bit better about my game. And to play against different skillsets than they have in the NHL and the AHL at that point, it was definitely different. Different types of players, all great, but it helped my game as a whole to grow and it was a big moment for me.”
Additional reporting and transcribing by Fedor Fedin.
