Beyond a "Miracle On Ice"

By Jackson Morgus

If you live anywhere near Walsh Residence Hall and heard a one-man hullabaloo around 7:45 Tuesday night, I can explain myself. Already, what is perhaps my favorite sporting event of the year has passed, and it couldn't have gone any better. The problem is, aside from a few of my annoyed neighbors, hardly anyone noticed.

In a young year already packed with meaningful sporting events, the highlight for me was a tournament played in Saskatchewan, Canada that, unless you follow hockey avidly, you probably didn't even know about. It was the World Junior Hockey Championships, and my, was it a dandy.

Every December, the world's best hockey players under 20 years old play in a tournament, for their respective nations.

I could ramble on for paragraphs about the drama of the United States knocking off a five-time defending champion Canada team that was made up of mostly NHL draft picks. I could talk about the back-and-forth gold medal game that the U.S. pulled out in overtime four days after losing to the same Canada squad.

The spectacular 2010 edition of the WJHCs isn't even what I want to talk about.

This is because even before the "wouldn't believe it in a movie" championship for the Americans, I knew that this would be one of my favorite events.

For one, it is really the only major sports event of the year in which the elite talent represents nations in a tournament that serves to make up the most important part of the players' year. Not one of the 22 players on the U.S. or Canada squads would have traded gold for CHL or NCAA championships, something that can't be said for any other international event other than maybe the FIFA World Cup. There is something special about having national teams involved, and to see guys play like it means the world is both rare and enthralling.

The other reason I love the WJHCs is that you literally are watching the future of hockey. The list of superstars to have played in the tournament is staggering. Literally every player on the top teams (USA, Canada, Sweden and Russia, at least) will go on to the NHL. Every. Single. One. A good portion will be stars. Not even the NCAA tournament, the closest thing in terms of this, can say that.

I really can't even express how much I love this tournament and how happy I was with this year's version in this small space. You need to see for yourself. If you like sports (or even if you like America), do yourself a favor. Look at the highlights online, and tune in next year. You won't regret it.