By Aaron Bell
Timmins, ON - Team Ontario came to Timmins looking for gold but they will have to settle for silver after a frustrating 2-1 loss to the U.S.A. in the championship game on Monday.
Ontario struggled to get the puck past American goaltender John Gibson despite firing 39 shots, including 19 in the third period.
"The boys are down," said Ontario coach Jake Grimes of the Belleville Bulls."I'm not sure they know what just happened. Their eyes were on the gold right from the start. I think in time they'll realize they became better players and better people over this journey. We ran out of time today. Right now it stings."
Daniel Catenacci of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds finally scored for Ontario with just over one second left in the game. It was announced that Boone Jenner of the Oshawa Generals scored the goal but it was obviously Catenacci that scored it and he confirmed it after the game. Either way, it was clearly too late for a comeback.
"We couldn't buy a goal early on in the game," said Catenacci, the first overall pick in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection. "We became such a tight group from Day 1. The team is heartbroken. It seemed like we were getting pucks deep and toward their net but we just couldn't get it in the net. Their goalie stood on his head."
After a scoreless first period, the U.S. snapped the deadlock when Reid Boucher put a wrist shot over the glove of Ontario goaltender Tyson Teichmann of the Belleville Bulls.
Tyler Biggs added to the American's lead with what proved to be the game-winner 31 seconds into the final frame. Biggs, who played in the OHL Cup with the Jr. Canadiens and was a second round pick of the Oshawa Generals in the OHL Priority Selection last May, also picked up an assist on the opening goal. The U.S. won gold for the first time since 2002.
Ontario was looking for its third straight gold medal at the World Under-17 Championship after winning in London, ON in 2008 and again last year in Port Alberni, BC. The win in 2008 came against the U.S.A.
"I think they spent themselves," Grimes said. "They did everything they could to get pucks through and played the way we wanted to play. We had lots of shots at the net but not a lot of them got through."
Ontario defenceman Scott Harrington of the London Knights was named to the post-tournament All-Star team.
Earlier in the day, Sweden defeated Russia 5-2 to win the bronze medal.
Team Ontario included 20 Ontario Hockey League rookies along with OHL coaches, Grimes, Troy Smith of the Kitchener Rangers and Jeff Reid of the Owen Sound Attack.
The 2011 and 2012 Under-17 Championships will be held in Winnipeg, MB.
