Canada ready for semi-final battle against U.S.

NEWS RELEASE

HOCKEY CANADA

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CANADA TO FACE USA IN 2007 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINALS

LEKSAND, SWE – Canada’s National Junior Team will face USA in the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship semi-finals on Wednesday, January 3rd. The Canada/USA semi-final will be broadcast live on TSN/RDS and on The Fan Radio Network (check local listings) at 10:00 am (ET)/ 4:00 pm local.

The other semi-final will have Russia taking on Sweden.

In quarter-final action on Tuesday, USA advanced to face Canada in the semi-finals on the strength of a 6-3 win over Finland while Sweden advanced to face Russia with a 5-1 win over the Czech Republic.

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United States - Canada PREVIEW:

LEKSAND, Sweden - Steve Downie lives for games like this.

Canada plays the United States in the semifinals of the 2007 World Junior Hockey Championship on Wednesday and Downie is ready for prime time.

"I love to play hockey and what other game would you rather play than a big game for your country. How can you not get pumped up?" Downie said Tuesday after the Canadian juniors held a spirited hour-long practice.

Downie, who has three goals in four games, is one of 11 players on the Canada's National Junior Team who won a gold medal at the 2006 WJC tournament in British Columbia, and he was a natural when it was time to name the roster for the '07 tournament.

Downie's leadership skills are undisputed and welcomed by coach Craig Hartsburg.

"His play is very important because he does some really good things offensively. He does not have the speed of an (Andrew) Cogliano but he finds a way to get it done offensively," said Hartsburg.

"He does whatever it takes to win and to me that is leadership. His personality, the players gravitate to him and he talks to everybody. He is jabbing everybody and he is in the middle of everything. That is a leader. And when the game is on the line, as far as checking and being good in his own end, there are probably not too many players you would rather have on the ice winning those one on one battles."

Downie is a little uncomfortable talking about being a team leader. He looks around the dressing room and sees a room full of leaders.

"I am doing the same thing this year as last year. I have to play a hard game out there. But we look up to each other," he said. "That is what we do. Everyone looks up to everyone on this team and everyone is a leader. You can't pin it on one guy."

The Canadian juniors were glad to be back on the ice after taking New Year's Day off to rest. The players had most of the day to spend doing what they wanted and they reassembled Monday night to begin preparations for the semifinal.

"I get pumped in my own ways," said Downie. "Last night (Monday) I relaxed and thought about what is going on and I will think about it more (Tuesday night) when we know who we are playing. We had a good practice (on Tuesday) and we were sharp and it (his preparation) will really start when we know who we are playing."

Hartsburg isn't worried about going into the semifinal not having played a game since Sunday.

"I can't see how it (the layoff) can hurt you," he said. "The focus is how we want to play."

The United States beat Finland 6-3 Tuesday night to advance to the semifinals. Hartsburg was at the game and said the American team he saw is playing with a lot more confidence than they one Canada beat 6-3 in the preliminary round.

"They are on a roll and they are a good team and they have a lot of skill," said Hartsburg.

Downie was asked about the possibility of facing the U.S. before the Americans beat the Finns.

He said he would welcome playing them again, with the winner moving to the championship game on Friday.

"We will work and out-hustle them, play a North American game and work our tails off for 60 minutes," he said.

And Downie cautioned about reading too much into Canada's 6-3 preliminary round victory

"That was the round robin. Good teams get better as they go on." ************************************************************