This left an enormous whole and big shoes to fill. Canada added two young forwards to their roster to slowly work them into filling these roles for the future, setting their sites more on 2009 than 2007, however, Jonathan Daoust and Matt Tremblett had other ideas in mind. The two not only stepped in, they lead the team in scoring, Tremblett 4G, 8A, and Daoust 6G, 4A. As well, Tremblett was named to the World Allstar team, and Daoust was recognized as the Tournament Most Valuable Player. Meanwhile, David Di Gironimo, backup to Perodeau in 2005, was stellar in goal, allowing only 4 goals in 6 games, and absolutely stoning his opponents in the two most important games of the event, the Semi-Finals (vs. Italy), and the Gold medal game (vs. Czech Republic). For his efforts, Di Gironimo was named Most Valuable Goaltender of WC07.This is the reason why this nation has stretched its run to 4 golds in a row, their ability to bring in young impact players to replace the stars of past teams. The credit falls to Head Coach George Gortsos and Team Manager Tony Iannitto, who have developed a masterful development, scouting, and recruitment plan that has been paying gold dividends since 2001.
Gortsos then moulds the individually talented players selected into a finely tuned machine, with the athletes deserving much praise for their commitment to the team concept. As well as Tremblett, Daoust, and Di Gironimo played, they will be the first to tell you that it was a total team effort. Veterans such as James Mentis and (5th WC), Paolo Musto (6th WC), and captain Sandro Morello (4th WC), are instrumental in passing on the tradition of excellence to the youth that are added annually to the program. Even as long-time veterans, they are key players, Mentis named as one the World Allstar defenceman for his outstanding play in the playoff rounds, as he played little during the round-robin due to injuries.
Congratulations to the entire crew: players, manager, coaches, and team staff!
ISBHF Tournament Awards
Fairplay Cup ~ Bermuda
Tournament Top Scorer ~ Thomas Raffel (Austria) with 17 (11G, 4A)
Most Valuable Goaltender ~ David Di Gironimo (Canada)
Most Valuable Defenceman ~ Marian Giba (Slovak Republic)
Most Valuable Forward ~ Petr Noak (Czech Republic)
Tournament Most Valuable Player ~ Jonathan Daoust
Tournament Allstar Team
Goalkeeper ~ Petr Sulan (Czech Republic)
Defence ~ Svatopluk Kvaizar (Czech Republic)
Defence ~ James Mentis (Canada)
Forward ~ Paul Duarte (Portugal)
Forward ~ Matt Tremblett (Canada)
Forward ~ Franco Andreacchi (Italy)
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Friday June 15th 2007
A-POOL
SEMI-FINALS – CAN 7 : 0 ITA
You need top-notch goaltending to make it to the final four, and as in the previous game with Suslan and Petrik displaying their skills, David Di Gironimo (CAN) and Rafaele Pellicori (ITA) were equal to the task. Italy tossed the first volley, applying dominant pressure through the first several minutes and Di Gironimo was spectacular. Sustaining the early press, Canada mounted a counterattack that produced several great chances, but Pellicori held. James Mentis slipped in from the point during one the Canadian possessions and snapped one over the goalie’s shoulder to break the deadlock. Jim Nistas added another for Canada minutes later. The Canuck squad should have had a few more goals but Pellicori was brilliant, including a stunning toe save to send it into the second at 2:0.
31 seconds into the middle period Terry Ryan wired a shot from the left face off circle finding a hole in the upper corner. The relentless Canadian pressure produced an Italian foul, and Matt Tremblett buried an opportunity from the side boards to stretch the lead to 4 goals. Captain Sandro Morello in a give-and-go with his winger drifted a shot passed the Italy net minder late in the period.
Italy showed some spark to start the third, testing Di Gironimo, who remained sharp despite the reduced action in his end the previous period. Speedster Johnny Russo provided a highlight reel end-to-end rush up the right side, and cut in at the last moment to snap a wrist shot into the net. The 6:0 lead re-energized the Canadian bench and the floor tilted once more heavily into the Italian zone. Bein-Aime finished off a series of low slot passes by bulging the twine for #7. The match up is now set for the gold medal match with Canada taking on Czechia, the first time they have met in the final since 2001 when the Canadians won in overtime. Italy will play Slovakia for the A-Pool bronze.
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Wednesday June 13th 2007 - Game #4
A-POOL
Quarter-Finals - CAN 8 : 1 UK
The main question for this game was, how long would the British with only 4 defenders and 9 forwards be able to resist to the Canadians. The men from the United Kingdom defended themselves well, and allowed the Canadians only two goals in the opening period. Andrew Courtney scored at 5:51, and Martin Frechette towards the end. The men in front of an excellent Troy Buswell did a great job, but the Canadians were to strong for them today. Johnny Morina, Paolo Musto and Mark Smith put the mark on 5:0 before Jim Geddes could finally mark for the British shortly before the end o the central period. In the last period the North Americans scored three more by Jonathan Daoust, Terry Ryan and Joey Parks. Best scorer in this game was Daoust with 1G 2A. Canada will face in the A-Pool semifinals Italy on Friday evening at 9pm. The United Kingdom meets Switzerland Thursday at 4pm for the A-Pool Play downs.
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Tuesday June 12th 2007
POR 1 : 8 CAN
The most puzzling question of the tournament so far is what has happened to Portugal? The 2005 4th place team has been unable to find its form. There were good signs in the first period, keeping pace with the vaunted Canadians 1:1, holding them until the 13:11 Mathieu Lebrun goal, and then answering with Juaquim Fernandes scoring the equalizer on a pass from Christopher Creador. However, the momentum derailed with two early goals at 1:05 and 1:55 in the second period provided by Jonathan Daoust and Matt Temblett of Canada. The Europeans tried to react once more, but the Canadian defense and their excellent goalkeeper David DiGironimo prevented them from scoring. Martin Frechette and Terry Ryan also added one each in the second. Biaggio Daniele, Shaun Myskiw and Jim Nistas pushed the final to 8:1. Canada will play tomorrow evening in the A-Pool quaterfinal, with the opponent yet to decide. Portugal will face Austria later this afternoon in the relegation game.
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Monday June 11th 2007
SUI 1 : 6 CAN
Canada was all business in this game, and executed in workmanlike fashion with ball control, crisp movement, and capitalization of opportunities. Goaltender Andrew Platt was tested little, as he got a taste of his first World Championship start for Canada. Jim Nistas scored in the 4th minute the first period. The Swiss, in the end much of the period, defended their cage well and with a lot of spirit. Jonathan Daoust beat the formidable Swiss goalkeeper Stephan Sidler in the final minute. The North Americans opened the middle segment with two quick goals by Mathieu Lebrun and Ian Fontaine, both added an assist in this game as well. The Swiss displaying some resiliency came back with one 57 seconds later on a shot by Beiersdörfer assisted by Stucki. Team Suisse created several scoring chances as they gained more confidence, but it was Team Canada that profited on one of the few penalties in this fairly played game, to put the score at 5:1 shortly before the second break. The goal was scored by Martin Frechette. In the last period, the game slowed. Sandro Morello added the final for Canada. With this victory Canada goes directly to the A-Pool quaterfinals. They next face a Portugal team that cannot avoid a relegation game, in the final round-robin game, while Switerland must beat the Czechs to avoid their own relegation game fate.
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Sunday June 10th 2007
CAN 6 : 2 CZE
The reigning champs set the Czechs on their heels early and manufactured a lead 2:12into the first period when Sandro Morello found the net. Petr Novak of the Czech Republic responded to tie the match near the end of the period. Canadaagain opened a lead and bulged it to two with Terry Ryan and Matt Tremblett scores. Czechia reeled the Canadians back in at 13:30 of the second with a Ondrej Kejr shot, and their play picked up tempo, carrying the attack for long stretches. Midway through the third with Canada now utilizing the counterattack play, sprang open Martin Frechette on a breakaway resulting in a pretty goal, and a third assist for Mathieu Lebrun. The Bohemians still did not give up on the game, pushing harder still, and caused their opponents to take a penalty. However, a short-handed Jonathan Daoust dump pass from deep in his own end to a speeding Johnny Russo landed on his stick, which he quickly shot at the net, and it bobbled over goaltender Jan Donauschachtl to break the spirit of the Czechs. Jonathan Daoust would add one of his own, after two assists, late on a powerplay. Canadanow plays Switzerlandfor security from a relegation playoff game, while Czechia looks for its first points against a Portugalteam that beat them in the quarter-finals of WC’05 in Pittsburgh, USA.