Team Canada came to Saskatoon looking for a record setting gold medal performance but will have to settle for silver after dropping a 6-5 overtime decision to Team U.S.A. in the Championship Game of the 2010 World Junior Championships on Tuesday.
Canada opened the scoring early in the second period and then rallied from a two-goal deficit late in the third period but former London Knights' defenceman John Carlson scored the game-winner on a three-on-one 4:31 into overtime to give the U.S. its first World Junior gold medal since 2004.
Canada had won the past five tournaments and were looking for a record-setting sixth straight championship and second in a row on home ice.
The U.S.A. will have as many as nine returning players when they host the tournament next year in Buffalo, NY.
Luke Adam of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles opened the scoring for Canada 2:40 into the game and Greg Nemisz of the Windsor Spitfires tallied to tie the game at two late in the opening frame. Carlson and Taylor Hall of the Spitfires traded goals in the second period and then the U.S. went ahead early in the third on goals by Jerry Damingo and Derek Stepan.
Jordan Eberle of the Regina Pats scored goals 1:14 apart in the final three minutes of regulation to force the extra time.
Hall and Nazem Kadri of the London Knights each had a pair of assists for Canada while AJ Jenks of the Plymouth Whalers picked up an assist in the first period for the U.S.A.
Jake Allen of the Montreal Juniors started the game for Canada but was pulled early in the third period after giving up five goals. Martin Jones of the Calgary Hitmen came on in relief and kept the Americans at bay until the overtime marker.
Spitfires' prospect Jack Campbell came on in relief of starter Mike Lee in the U.S. net and gave up two goals.
CHL players on the U.S. team also included Cam Fowler of the Spitfires, Brian Lashoff of the Kingston Frontenacs, Philip McRae of the London Knights and Tyler Johnson of the Spokane Chiefs.
Game Sheet
