A Canadian Christmas week tradition continues later today when TSN televises the Canadian teams tournament opener against Sweden, as Canada tries to defend their World Junior championship. Canada has not been able to win over in Europe though since 1997.

The tournament is truly a phenomenon up here with TV ratings that can blow the NHL ratings out of the water. Last year's championship game was watched by more than 3 million people up here, which is a higher rating than many Stanley Cup finals games and is a number that is about 6x larger than TSN's normal NHL regular season games ratings.

The good news this year is that TSN is doing every Canadian game in HD + streaming on broadband, which with the time difference helps as many of us up here will sneakily watch bits and pieces of the game while at work.

The full TSN schedule is listed here.
http://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/feature/?fid=4124

Yep, and its pretty big news for us out here as well. My Spokane Chiefs have contributed a Spokane boy, Sean Zimmerman, to the team who plays Germany today. Unfortunately we can only watch the game on a feed from Team USA website. Lets Go USA!!!!

If it's later in the US, the Germany-USA game is available on their website right now.
www.tsn.ca

They'll also webcast USA-Canada, USA-Slovakia and the medal round.

The first in each group goes to the semi-final, second and third have to play in a quarterfinal.

Group A
Canada, USA, Sweden, Slovakia, Germany

Group B
Russai, Finland, Czech Rep., Switzerland, Belarus

Canada lost to Sweden a few days ago in exhibition game so this first game vs the host and the second against the US makes it a tough start in the tournament. Carey Price, drafted by the Montreal Canadiens, will goal today so I hope he is good.

I hate to say this, but Price is a really good goalie. I know for a fact. He plays for my arch rival and much hated, Tri-City Americans who to this point have pretty much owned my Chiefs this season, so far. Price has been a big reason, but this changes this weekend when the Chiefs take on Tri in a critical home and home. WE have teen sensation Jared Cowen for 5 games. Woo-Hoo....but getting back to the juniors, I will be following this with great interest, as usual.

Not a very good start for the Yanks. Lose to Germany 2-1 just now, in overtime. The only good news is we get 1 point. Canada up next tomorrow. Better bring their "A" game tomorrow.....

If you have the NHL Center Ice package they also showed the USA-Germany game this morning. I assume they'll have other games as well.

The choice was made to go with Price for the first game. Don't know if it means he will goaltend agisnt the US as well. The other goalie is from the WHL also. Leland Irving plays for Everett.

Germany and Belarus (4-3 over Finland) have made the upsets on the first day.

Center Ice, no way, Bombastic, I mean Comcast(ic) wants like what another $150 for that? More like an arm and a leg.....I love hockey but they get enough per month from me....anyways, hope the US team figures out how to score some goals, or its yet another disappointing tournament for US. Have also seen Irving. Spokane beat him 2 weeks ago here. Wasn't that sharp, neither was Everett.

Since I can remember, I have spent the Christmas holidays watching the World Junior Hockey Championships. It's truly one of the great Canadian traditions in my opinion!

Great start for Canada who defeated Sweden 2-0 today. Some key facts to keep in mind...

1. Canada hasn't allowed a goal in 211 minutes and 50 seconds
2. Canada has won 13 straight games
3. Canada is two time defending World Junior Hockey Champion
4. Canada hasn't lost a Round Robin game since 2002!

Andrew Cogliano played very well today...he was one player who stood out. He was a consistant threat and if he can just find a way to finish, WATCH OUT!

So Canada destroyed the US yesterday. And not to be selfish (but that's the kinda fella I am) I'm hoping the US loses now to Slovakia or Sweden and misses the final round. That way they come home early -- I need my Badgers who are on the Jr. team back for next weekend's series against Denver.

More than likely, you will get your wish. Me, I am rooting for Canada! And a big reason is that their goalie, Carey Price plays for the Tri-City Americans whom Spokane is still tied with for 3rd place as of today. Guess who we have to play twice this weekend??? If you said Tri-City, you win. And the Ams don't have Price right now. So, Go Canada!!!!!

I wouldn't say Canada "destroyed" the USA. They had a 3-0 lead, then the USA cut it to 3-2. It was 4-2 and the USA got a goal that I think shouldn't have counted because of goaltender interference, so it was 4-3 pretty late in the game. Canada got one goal to make it 5-3 and then scored on an empty net.

As for your Badgers coming home early, there are games involving the 4th- and 5th-place teams through January 4th in the "Playoff and Relegation Round." (The what? ) If your Badgers are playing that weekend it might be asking a bit much for the players to fly back across the ocean and jump right into action.

USA still alive. Sweden tied the game with a few seconds left to play so they went in overtime and USA won 3-2. USA finishes third in the group and will play Finland (second place in the other group). The winner will play against Canada.

Keep it up guys!!!!! :-)

A very impressive win for US this afternoon as we bomb Finland 6-3, bring up another USA/Canada rematch tomorrow afternoon. Woo-Hoo!!!

USA leads Canada 1-0 after two periods. Maybe the US have the good strategy: start slow and win when it counts. Still one period to go.

I am listening to the choppy audio broadcast.......US just takes a HUGE penalty.....

Off to overtime we go!!!!!!

It went to a shootout. Canada won in the 7th round and will meet Russia in the gold medal game. The USA will face Sweden for the bronze.

To see the shootout :
TSN broadband - shootout

In important games like this, I prefer teams play overtime until one scores.