An unforgettable performance

MONTREAL -- It's already been 10 years since Canada won gold at the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship in Sweden. But even a decade later, the tournament continues to be remembered today as Carey Price's introduction to the hockey world at large -- especially in Montreal.

At the time, Habs fans saw a number of the team's young prospects impress at the annual holiday event, but none played as important a role as the future Canadiens goaltender did all those years ago.
"It does feel like it happened a long time ago. It was a fun time in my life, and a very cool experience," recalled Price, who was one of the nation's final cuts the year prior to snagging Team Canada's starting job in December 2006. "I had previously had the opportunity to play in U18 and U17 tournaments, which are kind of similar in some ways, but this was a whole other level for me."

As a team formed of the nation's best rising stars from coast to coast, it's only normal that most of the hopefuls arriving at selection camp rarely know one another coming in. And while that may have been the case in 2007, it also didn't take long for the others to notice there was something special about Price.
"It was really at that tournament that I got to meet him for the first time," remembered Kris Letang, now a defenseman with the Pittsburgh Penguins. "Even back then, as young as we were, he was an extremely calm guy for his age. He didn't speak much, and he always looked focused.
"Whether at practice or in-game, his cool confidence reassured the rest of us on the ice. It let us know that everything was under control. That's the type of leadership he brought," continued the former Team Canada captain.
But his teammates weren't the only ones buoyed by the Anahim Lake, BC native's calming presence.
"Even then, he was so concentrated on what needed to be done. I could see that he was a kid who wasn't easily rattled," added Canadiens assistant coach Clement Jodoin, at the time one of head coach Craig Hartsburg's assistants with Team Canada.
"Was Carey the leader of that team? He was the best at his position, and I think that says it all," underlined the now-64-year-old.
Year after year, a gold medal is considered the only acceptable result for Canada at the annual tournament which shines a spotlight on Junior hockey's best and brightest. Luckily, Price was more than up to the task.

Allowing just four goals in as many starts -- including two shutouts -- during the preliminary round, the then-19-year-old dominated his competition early on.
Then, with an automatic pass to the semi-final round, Canada would face its first real test against its neighbors to the South. Always a classic when the North American rivals meet at any level, Canada-USA were tied 1-1 following 60 minutes of regulation and 10 minutes of extra time, leaving just the shootout to decide which team would head to the final.
Having never seen Price perform in the tiebreaker, it's hard to blame Letang for sweating a little, no matter how unwarranted his worry turned out to be.
"At five-on-five, we knew Carey had our backs, but the shootout is different -- you never know what can happen. There are guys who are shootout specialists who can still ring one off the post. It was stressful, because we were one mistake from heading home," acknowledged the two-time Stanley Cup champ. "I think we were all nervous, except for maybe Price and Jonathan Toews."
The shootout which followed would turn out to be one of the most memorable in tournament history, as the two teams traded goals tit-for-tat. But even if Price would be beat on three occasions, he was at vintage form when it mattered most opposite Peter Mueller.
"It was a close game, and their goaltender [Jeff Frazee] was playing well. I knew that Peter Mueller had some pretty good moves in the shootout, but Toews was clutch as well," shared the Habs netminder, of his teammate who scored three times in the 14-round tiebreaker, including the winner. "Watching Taser from the other end, you get an appreciation for his ability to kind of hide what his real intentions are. I knew that going into the shootout already, but he's been clutch ever since."
Although the emotions ran the gamut among the players that day on January 3, 2007, the opposite was true behind the bench.

"When you're a coach, your job is to make decisions -- not to be nervous," stressed Jodoin. "When you allow yourself to get nervous, you make the wrong decisions, so that was one game I kept my emotions in check."
After breaking the hearts of the Americans, Canada concluded its tournament with a 4-2 win against Russia to win gold. Heading home with a 6-0-0 record, a 1.14 goals-against average and a .961 save percentage, Price was named tournament MVP and earned a spot on the competition's All-Star team.
But most of all, he also gave his future NHL teammates and opposition a preview of things to come.
"His performances that year were unbelievable, and he was hands down our MVP," concluded Letang, who was also among the tournament's All-Stars. "He's been incredible ever since, no matter where he's gone. After seeing him back in the day, I'm not surprised at all by the success he's enjoying today."