On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave me a hockey game. And not just a hockey game — the World Junior Championship!
Yeah, I’d never heard of it either, but apparently it’s a pretty big deal. The juniors are up-and-coming hockey stars (age 18-20, or thereabouts), some of whom will become household names at the next Olympics.
And, man! Was that ever a great game, albeit a little lopsided. This was the first year Denmark was in the Juniors, though, so they should be proud of a 10-2 score against powerhouse Canada. Hey, at least they scored.
I’d been told the Juniors play a cleaner game (i.e. they don’t fight so much), but they sure played a focused game. They played with all their young hearts, and it was hard to look away.
I tried to take some pictures, but those money shots, where you can see the puck, preferably slipping into the net, are HARD!
I think this shot, for instance, is seconds after a goal (sadly for the wrong team). See that referee? According to Hockey Referee Signals, he’s making the signal for “Goal!”
Either that or “cross checking.” How the heck would I know? I don’t know anything about hockey!
I was a little blown away by how much the audience dressed in their team’s colors.
I had heard on the news that Edmonton was papering the stands with red, but seeing it was quite another experience.
Especially when everyone was on their feet, cheering after a goal (for the right team, in this picture).
I felt a little out of place wearing turquoise and black.
It was a little hard, though, distinguishing between Canadian and Danish fans because both teams were dressed in all-out red.
Tags: 12 Days of Christmas, hockey, World Juniors
