The following article is by Alan Adams of The Canadian Press:
 
TEAM CANADA IN TOUGH; WORLD JUNIOR GOLD BECKONS
 
It's not easy to win the world junior hockey championship.
 
Canada may be the three time defending champion--and winner four of the
last five years--but that matters not as the 1996 tournament opens
Tuesday in Boston.
 
Luck and grit are key ingredients if the players with the Maple Leaf on
their jersey are to hang on to the gold medal and join the former Soviet
Union as the only country to win four straight.
 
The Canadians, a collection of nondescript players culled from the major
junior and US college ranks are focusing on team building which counts
immeasurably in a short, pressure packed tournament like the world juniors.
 
Two years ago Canada sent a similar blue collar team to the worlds in the
Czech Republic and was rewarded for a gritty overall effort with the gold.
 
At the time, Swedish coach Tommy Tomth was asked to sum up Canada's
success in the event.
 
"The Canadians did not have great individual players," said Tomth, who
has since joined the coaching staff of Sweden's national team.  "But as a
team they were something special."
 
...Canada is strong in goal and deep on defence but there are question
marks about the forwards.
 
Are they big enough?
 
And can they score?
 
...Russia and the Czechs are considered Canada's toughest competition.
Sweden is in a year of transition and isn't considered a contender wihle
Finland has what is described by European NHL scouts as an average team.
The five other teams, including the United States, are also-rans.
 
Russia will have an exciting player in Sergei Samsonov, an explosive
left-winger who is an early favourite to go No. 1 in the 1997 draft...
 
If the Czechs get it together they could be a force.  Trouble is, getting
it together has often been a problem...
 
Canada is in a pool with the US, Finland, Ukraine, and Switzerland and,
barring an embarrassment of epic proportions, should make the medal round
and should finish first.
 
The other pool has Russia, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.
 
In Saint John, NB Wednesday night, Mike Watt scored two goals, including
the winner late in the third period, to spark Canada to a come from
behind victory over the Czech Republic.
 
END OF QUOTE
 
Please no flames about the comment re: the US team.  I'm just
quoting--and rooting for the BU guys.
 
Arthur Berman [log in to unmask]
GO BU!!! NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!
GO CANADA!!!
 
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