EDMONTON - There is still one Edmonton game left on Team Canada?s schedule, but the initial mission has been accomplished.
Canada has already secured a ticket to the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship semifinal which will be staged in Calgary?s Scotiabank Saddledome on Jan. 3.
Undefeated in the three games they played in the Pool B preliminary round, Canada had its destiny set when the Czech Republic scored a 5-2 win over the U.S. on Friday afternoon.
In Calgary?s Pool A, Russia and Sweden go head-to-head to determine which team heads to the remaining semifinal game. The Russians have nine points from three wins while Sweden has eight after securing two wins in regulation time and one win in overtime.
Canada (3-0) plays the U.S. in the final preliminary game at Rexall Place on Saturday at 6 p.m. The Americans go into the game with one win, two losses and a lot of frustration.
?It doesn?t matter what the stakes are when you?re playing the U.S.,? Team Canada defenceman Mark Pysyk said.
?This is a game we?ve obviously had circled since Day 1,? said Brandon Wheat Kings forward Mark Stone. ?There?s not too much love between the two countries.?
Before Canada had even made its way to Edmonton for the start of the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, Pysyk figured he had a firm grasp on what the experience would be like. He grew up in Sherwood Park, plays for the Edmonton Oil Kings, so he was certain he knew what was to come.
But he was not ready for the outpouring of support. And he can?t imagine what the scene will be like when the Edmonton portion of the tournament ends New Year?s Eve with a game against the Americans. The red, white and blue have been the team fans have loved to hate since the tournament opened on Dec. 26.
?You can imagine all you want that you?re playing for Team Canada in a full building, but nothing in your head compares to what it?s actually like,? Pysyk said.
The top three teams from each pool will advance to the medal round in Calgary. The bottom two teams in both the Edmonton and Calgary pools will head to the relegation round, which will also be staged in the Saddledome.
?It?s been everything and more,? Nathan Beaulieu, a defenceman with the Saint John Sea Dogs said when asked if the tournament has been everything he expected. ?I?ve never played in front of a crowd this crazy (and) they will definitely be behind us tomorrow.
?We?re really looking forward to the game tomorrow and I?m sure they are, too.?
jireland@edmontonjournal.com
Twitter.com/jirelandEJ
? Copyright (c) Postmedia News
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