2004 WJC title game foreshadowed Sunday's matchup

Saturday, 02.27.2010 / 9:24 PM / All-Access Vancouver

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Several of the players who will face each other on Sunday when Canada and Team USA play for Olympic gold have previously faced off in a gold-medal game – at the 2004 World Junior Championships in Finland. The U.S., led by 2010 Olympians Zach Parise, Ryan Suter and Ryan Kesler, won their first-ever World Junior gold with a 4-3 win over a Canadian team that featured Sidney Crosby, Mike Richards, Marc-Andre Fleury, Brent Seabrook and Ryan Getzlaf.

Here are what some of the players competing in Sunday’s Olympic gold-medal game had to say after that game six years ago:

Canada's Mike Richards -- "I've never lost in a critical game. It's given me more incentive for the future."

Canada's Brent Seabrook -- "What happened to us was heartbreaking. No question about it. But as I said, we'll go back next year and win it in the U.S. That's what we all want to do -- bring the gold back home. There'd be nothing better."

Canada's Sidney Crosby -- "Ever since the game ended, next year's tournament is all I've been thinking about. That feeling you have after losing is not fun. You want to make sure you don't have that again."

Team USA’s Ryan Kesler -- "It's an unbelievable feeling. Flying back on the nine-hour flight (from Helsinki) I had the gold medal around my neck and I just grabbed it and looked at it. It's just amazing to be the first U.S. team to win the world junior gold and to beat Canada makes it even sweeter."

Team USA’s Zach Parise (the tournament MVP) -- "This rates right up there with the Miracle On Ice."

Team USA’s Ryan Suter -- "I hope that this is the start to many successful years ahead. We had to get on the map somehow."

2004 WJC title game foreshadowed Sunday's matchup

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