A hat trick from Drake Batherson helped lift Canada over the Czech Republic and into the gold medal game against Sweden at the .
Batherson (New Minas, N.S./Cape Breton, QMJHL) had four points in the 7-2 semi-final win and is now tied for the goal scoring leader of the tournament with six goals in seven games.
馃帺馃帺馃帺. Unbelievable. Atta boy, .
香蕉视频直播� Hockey Nova Scotia (@HockeyNS)
香蕉视频直播淣ot getting the invite this summer, I think I saw a few guys last year who had a good start; got an invite to came and ended up making the team so maybe I thought I could be like that and it香蕉视频直播檚 worked out. I just worked on my game all summer, just progressing as a player and getting better every day,香蕉视频直播� said Batherson about his impact in his first international experience representing Canada.
Canadian forward speaks after scoring a hat trick in the 7-2 semi-final win against the Czechs at .
香蕉视频直播� IIHF (@IIHFHockey)
Canada, which includes B.C. players Dillon Dub茅 (Cochrane, Alta/Kelowna Rockets, WHL), Cal Foote (Kelowna/Kelowna Rockets, WHL) and former Penticton Vees player Dante Fabbro (Coquitlam/Boston University, HE), heads to the gold medal game for the second straight year. They are one win away from extending their world juniors record to 17 gold medals in 24 tournaments.
Sweden is seeking their 16th gold medal, but first they will have to figure out how to solve Canada香蕉视频直播檚 power play, the best in the tournament with a 56.5 per cent effectiveness rate. Canada has out scored opponents 36-10.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 going to be a different game, it香蕉视频直播檚 a tournament and it香蕉视频直播檚 a different group. I think our guys have learned a lot this year. We went through a lot in the first round and tonight with the way we played the game, trailing 1-0 early, guys didn香蕉视频直播檛 panic and we established our game. All those things we need to take and play our best game (Friday). They (Sweden) have a lot of skill and they香蕉视频直播檙e playing well, there香蕉视频直播檚 a reason why they香蕉视频直播檙e in the final. It will be a great game,香蕉视频直播� said Canadian head coach Dom Ducharme.
Back to the gold medal game they go! We香蕉视频直播檒l see you tomorrow at 8 !! 馃嚚馃嚘
香蕉视频直播� WJC 2018 in Buffalo (@WJCinBUF)
Friday marks 10 years to the day that Matt Halischuk scored in overtime to give Canada a 3-2 win over Sweden and their fourth consecutive gold.
In the other semi-final, the host U.S. were downed by Sweden 4-2. Sweden opened scoring in that game with 6:30 remaining in the first period. They then scored three goals in a two-minute span near the midway mark of the middle frame to give them a 4-0 lead.
香蕉视频直播淭his was a tough night for us but I thought we fought to the very end,香蕉视频直播� said Bob Motzko, head coach of the 2018 U.S. National Junior Team. 香蕉视频直播淔ortunately, this tournament isn香蕉视频直播檛 over. There香蕉视频直播檚 still a medal at stake and I know our guys are going to be ready to make our country proud.香蕉视频直播�
The gold medal game takes place at 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 5. The U.S. will face the Czech Republic in the bronze medal final at 1 p.m.
As voted by Canada香蕉视频直播檚 coaching staff, the best three players for 馃嚚馃嚘 at are Drake Batherson, Cale Makar and Conor Timmins.
香蕉视频直播� #WorldJuniors (@HC_WJC)
