WJC #26—2002, hosted by Czech Republic (Pardubice, Hradec Kralove)

The Canadians and Russians were the class of the 26th World Juniors while the host Czechs had a tough time, losing to Finland, 3-1, in the quarter-finals. The gold-medal game was back and forth, Canada leading 2-0 and 3-1. But Russia rallied and took a 4-3 lead to the dressing room after two periods. Canada tied the score early in the third on a power-play goal from Chuck Kobasew, but two minutes later Anton Volchenkov scored what proved to be the goal for gold. Finland took care of Switzerland, 5-1, for bronze. It was only the second time the Swiss had played for a U20 medal. France, meanwhile, played in their first, and still only, World Juniors, being relegated by the slimmest of margins. They played Belarus in a best-of-two relegation series and won the first game, 3-2. Belarus won the second game, however, 3-2, to force overtime and shootout, the Belarussians winning the PSS on a Dmitri Mialeshka goal. Sweden, despite having Henrik and Joel Lundqvist and several other top prospects, finished a disappointing sixth.

WJC #27—2003, hosted by Canada (Halifax, Sydney)

For only the second time in World Junior history the three medallists this year were the same as the previous year. And again it was a strong Russian third period in the gold-medal game that was Canada’s undoing as they couldn’t hold a 3-2 lead after two periods at the Metro Centre in Halifax. Igor Grigorenko and Yuri Trubachev scored in the final period and Canada couldn’t mount a comeback, finishing second again. Although Finland won bronze, they did so by defeating the U.S., 3-2, but this was a young American team that would be heard from again a year later. The 2003 edition included Zach Parise, Mark Stuart, Ryan Kesler, and Patrick O’Sullivan. This year also marked the first time that two teams, not one, were demoted. As a result, the relegation round consisted of a round robin among the lowest four teams, Germany and Belarus being sent down to Division I-A for 2004.

WJC #28—2004, hosted by Finland (Helsinki, Hämeenlinna)

In the first 27 years of the World Juniors, the United States wasn’t much of a factor among the big boys of the game. They had won only two bronze medals and one silver, and although they were a world power at the senior level, the same couldn’t be said at the U20. But in 1996, USA Hockey created the National Team Development Program, and in 2004 they finally reached the top of the podium. Canada, playing in their third straight gold-medal game, also fell short for the third consecutive year, again because of a weak third period. They led the Americans 3-1 on the strength of two goals from Nigel Dawes, but in the third O’Sullivan and Kesler tied the game. Then, with less than six minutes remaining, Canadian goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made a poor clearing. The puck hit O’Sullivan and ended up in the net. The U.S. had won its first World Junior gold medal. The Finns won bronze, their fourth consecutive year with a medal. 

WJC #29—2005, hosted by USA (Thief River Falls, Grand Forks)

After finishing runner-up three years in a row, Canada finally got back to the top of the podium with a team many regard as the greatest World Junior roster of all time. Imagine the wealth of talent coach Brent Sutter had to work with when he looked down the bench and saw Sidney Crosby, Patrice Bergeron, Dion Phaneuf, Shea Weber, Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, Brent Seabrook, and captain Mike Richards. The Canadians finished with a perfect 6-0 record and a goals differential of 41-7. The gold-medal game was advertised as Crosby versus Russian teen Alexander Ovechkin, but it wasn’t close. Canada won easily, 6-1. The Czechs won bronze thanks to a Petr Vrana overtime goal that gave his country a 3-2 win over the U.S. Germany and Belarus, demoted in 2003 and promoted for 2005, were again demoted after finishing in the last two spots of the four-team relegation series.

WJC #30—2006, hosted by Canada (Kamloops, Kelowna, Vancouver)

Canada had lost back-to-back gold-medal games to the Russians in 2002 and 2003, and now they were giving it right back. They shut out their great rivals, 5-0, to win a second gold in a row, in Vancouver, in a tournament that was part of the leadup to the 2010 Olympics for that city. Although Brent Sutter was the coach again, improving his career World Junior record to 12-0, he had a completely different roster than the year previous, but goalie Justin Pogge was magnificent, playing every minute in goal, recording three shutouts, and allowing only six goals in total. Finland won bronze, defeating the United States, which missed the medals with a second straight, 4th-place finish. Norway was relegated after making their first top-level appearance since 1991, as was Latvia, who were playing in the top division for the first time ever.

Previous articles from the Countdown to 50 series:

• Countdown to 50: Introduction - How the World Juniors Came To Be

• Countdown to 50: Part 1 – Establishing a New World Juniors Tournament

• Countdown to 50: Part 2 - Canada Wins First Gold at World Juniors

• Countdown to 50: Part 3 - Shock, Then the Dawn of a New Era of World Juniors

• Countdown to 50: Part 4 - Canadian Dominance at World Juniors

• Countdown to 50: Part 5 - Czechs Master the Form at World Juniors