Canadian Gold: Remembering the 2008 World Junior Championship
In the lead-up to the 2021 World Junior Championship, we're taking a look back at each of the 18 Canadian teams to capture the gold medal, culminating Dec. 25 with the start of the latest edition of the tournament.
The 2008 world juniors were held in the Czech Republic, with Canada looking to claim its fourth consecutive gold medal and 14th overall at the event.
A group of players who have now developed into household NHL names led a 2008 roster that was absolutely stacked and destined to finish atop a competitive field.
The roster
| Player | Position | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Kyle Turris | F | 18 |
| Brad Marchand* | F | 19 |
| Claude Giroux | F | 19 |
| Steven Stamkos | F | 17 |
| John Tavares | F | 17 |
| Matt Halischuk | F | 19 |
| Shawn Matthias | F | 19 |
| Stefan Legein | F | 19 |
| Colton Gillies | F | 18 |
| Brandon Sutter | F | 18 |
| Wayne Simmonds | F | 19 |
| Zach Boychuk | F | 18 |
| Riley Holzapfel | F | 19 |
| Drew Doughty | D | 18 |
| Karl Alzner* | D | 19 |
| Logan Pyett | D | 19 |
| Thomas Hickey | D | 18 |
| Luke Schenn | D | 18 |
| P.K. Subban | D | 18 |
| Josh Godfrey | D | 19 |
| Steve Mason | G | 19 |
| Jonathan Bernier | G | 19 |
*Denotes returning player
All ages are as of the start of the tournament
The tournament
Canada came out flying, opening the tournament with back-to-back shutout victories over the host Czech Republic team and Slovakia. A 4-3 loss to Sweden, however, cost the Canadians the top spot in Group A and an automatic trip to the semifinals. Mason would take the reigns in goal for the remainder of the tournament, with Canada needing to advance past three tough nations en route to a gold medal.
The Red and White clashed with Finland in the quarterfinals. With the contest squared midway through the third period, Marchand delivered the game-winning goal. Mason then shined in the semis, making 33 stops as Canada knocked off the United States 4-1 to set up a rematch with Sweden in the gold-medal game.
After Marchand and Giroux put Canada ahead 2-0, the Swedes struck twice in the third, tying the game with just 38 seconds remaining to set up Halischuk's overtime heroics.
The stars
A dominant top line of Marchand - the sole returnee among the forwards - Giroux, and Turris led Canada. The trio combined for 10 goals and 20 points over seven matchups while finding the twine in every game except the tournament opener.
The team also featured a pair of 17-year-old phenoms in Tavares and Stamkos. Tavares, who was still 18 months away from being drafted first overall, co-led the squad with four goals, while a baby-faced Stamkos contributed six points.
Defensively, Canada may have been even more impressive. Future Norris Trophy winners Doughty and Subban anchored a blue line that also included soon-to-be lottery pick Schenn. Godfrey, who was never able to crack an NHL lineup, led Canadian rearguards in scoring with five assists, but Doughty was named the best defenseman of the tournament after his dominant play all over the ice.
In goal, Mason produced one of the most inspiring performances in Canadian world junior history, authoring a 5-0 record with a 1.19 goals-against average and .951 save percentage. The Ontario native joined Marc-Andre Fleury and Carey Price as the only Canadian netminders to earn both tournament MVP and best goalie honors.
The key moment
Aside from the loss to Sweden, Canada faced little adversity throughout the tournament until the gold-medal finale. In that contest, the team blew a late lead and needed to regroup before overtime.
The Canadians didn't lose focus, and what started as a harmless play turned into one of the most memorable highlights in world junior history. Outnumbered in the offensive zone, Matthias bullied his way from the corner to the front of the net before Halischuk deposited the loose puck to clinch gold for Canada just 3:36 into the extra frame.
Halischuk became only the second player to clinch gold for his country in overtime since the tournament adopted the playoff format in 1996. Four players have done it since, with Kasperi Kapanen's golden goal for Finland in 2016 the latest.
The fallout
Stamkos and Doughty were selected No. 1 and 2, respectively, at the NHL draft just five months later. The pair have now combined to win three Stanley Cups, two Olympic gold medals, two World Cups, a Norris Trophy (Doughty), and two Rocket Richard trophies (Stamkos).
Schenn was selected with the fifth pick in the 2008 draft, and Boychuk went 14th. Giroux and Marchand, who were each selected in 2006, went on to become two of the league's most elite talents while dominating the following decade. Giroux ranked fourth in points (788) through the 2010s, while Marchand finished 19th in points (646) and 10th in goals. He also captured the Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins during his rookie campaign in 2011.
Some players from the team - including Legein, Holzapfel, Pyett, and Godfrey - never made it to the NHL.
Hickey, Subban, Boychuk, and Tavares returned to Team Canada in 2009 to help the nation capture its fifth consecutive gold medal. Canada then hit a five-year title drought, failing to win any medal in two of the tournaments during that stretch.