I have to admit I’m one of those Canadians that have become enraptured by the World Junior Hockey Championships – the tournament no one else in the world cares about.  But to give me a little credit, this brand of hockey is damn good.  It’s fierce competition with pure pride and country on the line.  It’s the Canadian version of NCAA March Madness.

Just this past January marked yet another chapter in Canadian hockey history.  With the enormous pressure of playing on Canadian soil and a 5th consecutive championship, the WJ Hockey team drew the msot drama during a semifinal showdown with Russia.  Down by one and seconds to go,  I remember standing poised to turn off the TV, my mind already succumbing to a hard-fought loss.  With 5.4 seconds to go, the craziest thing happened.  All I remember doing is screaming.

This shirt design is dedicated to the World Juniors of 2009-2010.  5.4 seconds.  Thank goodness for automatic icings.

Here’s an excerpt that’s printed on the inside of the Tee:

“The 2009 World Junior Championships was another fantastic year for Canadian hockey.  Clearly the NCAA tourney of the ‘north’, the World Junior Championships for years.  The January 2009 final reeled in a whopping 4.3 million viewers, breaking telecast records and solidifying its popularity for Canadian viewers.  The 2009 tourney was not without its share of drama however; the semifinal game against the rival Russians was, yet again, a classic.  With less than a minute to go it appeared the drive for five would end.  After the Russians marginally missed an empty net to seal a two-goal lead, the Canadians, with an extra attacker on the ensuing icing, found themselves keeping the puck in; a blind shot towards the net and suddenly a forward found himself alone.  A quick deke and suddenly Canadians across the country were off their chairs in hysteric euphoria; it was an electrifying tying goal with only 5.4secs remaining in regulation time.  Canada went on to win the game enroute to a fifth straight world junior gold medal.”