December 23, 2011
Posted in Columns, Hockey Canada, Major Junior
By Andrew Chong, editor /
Canada has won 15 gold medals in the last 30 World Junior Championships. And there have been some very impressive Canadian teams, along the way. So, what is the best team of all-time?
I’ve asked some of Hockey Now’s Major Jr. experts to weigh-in. But first...
MY PICK: 2008
This team is only four years removed from the Junior hockey level and already resembles a playoff-calibre NHL roster.
You’ve got a top line of Stamkos-Tavares-Giroux with Drew Doughty and PK Subban anchoring the D and the ultimate super-pest in Cup-champion Brad Marchand. You’ve even got a decent NHL goalie – something Team Canada doesn’t always produce – in Steve Mason, a former Calder Trophy winner.
Plus, the supporting cast features a group of guys that every NHL team would be thrilled to have, with guys like Luke Schenn, Brandon Sutter, Karl Alzner, and Wayne Simmonds.
And with Sidney Crosby’s playing future in jeopardy, we could be looking at the next dozen Hart trophies going to guys like Stamkos and Giroux—maybe even Tavares (who just turned 21 this fall and already has 145 NHL points, playing for a bad team).
And Drew Doughty will almost always contend for the Norris.
How good is this team going to look by the time their 10-year anniversary rolls around?
JOHN CULLEN, WHL REPORTER
BEST TEAM EVER: 2005
Nevermind the greatest World Junior team of all-time, this might be one of the greatest hockey teams of all-time.
The NHL lockout was one of the best things to happen to the World Juniors that year, as literally all of the best players were at head coach Brent Sutter’s disposal.
Just so happened the NHL Lockout occurred the year after what many consider the greatest NHL Draft Class of all time in 2003.
Sidney Crosby, Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, Jeff Carter, Patrice Bergeron, Shea Weber, Dion Phaneuf, and a host of others were led by captain Mike Richards in what turned out to be one of the greatest and most dominant performances by a Canadian hockey team, ever.
The tournament also produced many memorable moments, from the sobbing, arm-in-a-sling Alex Ovechkin begrudgingly shaking hands with the Canadians after getting walloped in the final to the infamous “Double Dion” bodycheck by Dion Phaneuf, it was a tournament and a team that I will never, ever forget.
DANNY BECK, HN STAFFER
BEST TEAM EVER: 1995
Best team ever, hands down, was the ‘95 team. Yes, ‘05 was stellar but neither goalie made the NHL.
The ’95 team was the most solid roster top to bottom, ever: Ryan Smyth, Darcy Tucker, Jeff Friesen, Jeff O’Neill, Ed Jovanovski, Wade Redden, Bryan McCabe, etc. Scored more than four goals in every game and went undefeated.
They had 13 first round NHL picks. Sixteen years later, there are still three players in the NHL. It’s always a great debate but ‘95 was a sick team.
MARK JANZEN, WHL REPORTER
BEST TEAM EVER: 2005
Like 1995, when the NHL lockout gave us a gluttony of talent on Team Canada’s gold medal winning entry in Red Deer, Canada’s 2005 entry was built with a similar excess of high-end skill. Only, they were better.
With no disrespect to Jeff Glass or Rejean Beauchemin, I’m pretty sure my Div. 8 beer league goalie could have played between the pipes in that tournament and won gold. Put it this way. Sidney Crosby was their fourth leading scorer. Enough said.
MIKE BEASLEY, OHL REPORTER
BEST TEAM EVER: 2005
This one wasn’t even close.
Canada outscored their opposition 32-5 in the preliminary round and then went on to demolish Russia 6-1 in the gold medal game.
Bergeron, Getzlaf and Carter finished 1, 2 and 4 in tournament scoring that year with some guy named Alexander Ovechkin finishing third.
To me, this squad surpasses the 1995 edition as the greatest Junior team on ice. Canada outscored the competition 41-7 and blitzed the Russians 6-1 in the gold-medal game.
DARREN STEINKE, WHL REPORTER
BEST TEAM EVER: 2005
This was the Canadian world junior team of all Canadian World Junior teams.
With Brent Sutter as the head coach, this squad played how all Canadians view their hockey teams as playing on a dream scope.
The club was talented offensively and gritty.
Canada’s previous gold at the World Junior tournament came in 1997, but the way this team dominated the field, one couldn’t understand how that drought was even possible.
SAM LASKARIS, OHL REPORTER
BEST TEAM EVER: 1982
People always remember their first. First kiss. First car. First house.
Or the first time they remember seeing their country win a world championship Thus, I feel the best team Canada iced was when it won its first WJC in Minnesota back in 1982.
Canada’s roster included brothers Mike and Randy Moller. Enforcer Garth Butcher was
also on the squad. The team member that enjoyed the longest NHL career was blueliner
James Patrick.
Canada’s roster did not include any future Hall of Famers. But I still get goosebumps when I recall how proud I felt watching the champions belt out the national anthem.
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