Gold Medal Pre-Game: Tokarski Gets the Nod

On the eve of the biggest game in their major junior careers, team Canada prepares for a rematch with Team Sweden in the Gold Medal game. The event will faceoff John Tavares and Victor Hedman for “round 2″ in a two round event – Tavares took round 1. They have 2 things at stake: both are competing for top prospect and both are competing for the gold.

Zach Boychuk did not take part during Sunday’s practice, but his absense was deemed “precautionary” and he is expected to lace them up tomorrow night. Tyler Myers also has brushed off his slight knee injury as “a stinger and nothing more”. He will look to join Cody Goloubef on the third defensive unit (although they are considered a better shut down duo than Teubert and Hickey).

Meanwhile, Pat Quinn has called upon Dustin Tokarski to play the final, and most important, game of the tournament. Despite his, at times, suspect defending skills, Tokarski has not lost a single game and looked solid in net during the overtime and shootout despite his smallish stature (5’11″ 185lbs). The Tampa Bay draft pick has stolen the number 1 position from Chet Pickard (6’2″ 210lbs) and looks to finish off the event with an important W.

It’s the Strive for Five; catch it live! Monday, 7:30PM EST (Re-runs of games are never as good)

Join me tonight on The Score for the liveblog of the event.

Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com

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  • betterforsome

    Clear another space on the shelf cause we’re bringing home the gold!

  • http://admin Alex Tran

    Oh man, can’t wait!

    I had the opportunity to watch some of Sweden’s games against Russia and Slovakia and man did they ever look good. Nothing like the Sweden team we beat up in the exhibition game in Toronto.

    They look a lot like the Red Wings. Very fast, fluid, and they always seem to have puck control. The defense is strong and very mobile, and might be the best defense corps in this tournament.

    Look out for Svensson Paajarvi. This kid is ridiculously talented. He’s got size, tremendous speed down the wing and a ton of offensive capability. It’s going to be interesting to see who they match up against him because Hickey hasn’t been very good so far this tournament, and Myers might not have the footspeed.

  • Hockey_Guru

    I find it impossible to watch a game that’s already been played… I only used to tape the ends of Leafs games when I was a kid cause I wasn’t old enough to stay up lol

  • JENS

    I bet we the swedes win it tonight. Markstom is so much better than Pickard/Tokarski. Watch out for MSP(#21) and Tedenby(#10), but I think Oscar Moller(#9) is the one with Markstrom who will dominate the game.

    All TMLfans can be glad that Senators pick Erik Karlsson(#5) who leads all defensmen in points(9) is really poor and will never be a star in NHL because of poor speed with puck and his big self confidence. The penguins wanted to meet him before the draft 2008, Erik: -Why? they don´t have any draft choice in the 1 round.

  • Fart

    WE ARE GONNA TEAR IT UP! CCCCCCCCCCCOMMMMMMMMMMMMMINATYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!

  • http://admin Alex Tran

    Not a big Karlsson fan?

    I think he’ll actually be a very good NHL player.

  • vesku35

    LEEEEEEEEEET’SSSSS GOOOOOO CANADA

  • vesku35

    Are you doing the live game blog at thescore mike?

  • Hockey_Guru

    LLLLOOOOOUUUUUDDD NOOOOOIIIIISSSSEEEESSS!!!

    Go Canada Go!

  • http://admin Alex Tran

    Don’t forget Calgary top prospect Mikael Backlund as well. He’s looked really sharp in the last few games.

  • wendel over mats

    all right now – that was really low….

    #18 Sweden just bit somebody’s finger!

  • vesku35

    never would have thought it would have been that easy, I thought Sweden would put up more of a fight. true, tokarski had alot to do with it

  • Jono

    WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Was there ever any doubt?*

    *tying goal with 5 seconds remaining in the semi-final notwithstanding

  • http://admin Alex Tran

    What a game by Tokarski!!! Kid came up big when it counts. Shut the door in OT, the SO, and now the gold medal final.

  • http://www.compositehockeysticks.ca Composite hockey sticks

    Still not the biggest Tokarski fan. Despite the amount of shots from Sweden, there weren’t nearly enough for him to prove himself on.
    This is not Price or Mason.

    Still, good on him for being a gold medal goalie. If nothing else he will be loaded with confidence to start his pro career, having seen and known what it takes to win.

Micheal Aldred

Author: Micheal Aldred

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I am an avid hockey fan and a writer for The Score Federation. I own Checking From Behind.com and bleed blue and white. I hope to one day become Wyatt Earp.