1978 World Junior Championship, Canada vs Sweden

Ricky Vaive, Incredulous in the Penalty Box
The other night, after the late NHL playoff game finished I instinctively changed the channel to TSN/ESPN Classic just to see what was on. Any thoughts of a regular bedtime for me were instantly ruined. Airing on the retro sports channel was a 1978 World Junior Hockey Championship game between Canada and Sweden originally played January 1, 1978. This game, at the Montreal Forum featured a 16-year old Wayne Gretzky (among many other future NHL stars). Boxscore of the game is below.
This game amounted to a semi-final match to determine who would play the winner of the Soviets and Czechs (Soviets won handily). All Canada needed was a tie against the Swedes and they would move onto the Championship game. Alas, Sweden bested Canada 6-5 on the strength of four power play markers. Canada had to make do with the Bronze medal while Gretzky was named Top Forward and topped the tourney with 17 points in 6 games, 7 more than his next teammate Wayne Babych.
Obviously, I was compelled to capture some still-shots of this somewhat historical game.
Gretzky and future Washington Capital Length Gustafsson. They would actually play two playoff games together for the WHA Oilers the following season.
Gustafsson on his own, and an out of position Canadian goalie Al Jensen. Just gotta love 1970's goaltending.
Amazingly, the Swedish penalty box was shared with the P.A. announcer. Just weird.
Future NHL star Rob Ramage and some sweet late 1970's graphics.
Canadian bench. Gretzky (2nd from left) with Wayne Babych & Bobby Smith at the far end.
The fresh-faced Kid, still three weeks shy of his seventeenth birthday.
Attendance at the Montreal Forum was apparently 2,200. I doubt it was even that high. Third period opening face-off here, note 10:00 minutes on the clock. Under IIHF predominantly European rules, teams switched ends halfway through the third as many games in Europe were still played outdoors.
Coach Ernie "Punch" Maclean, head coach of the previous Memorial Cup Champion New Wesminster Bruins. 
Al Jensen coming out of the net just a wee bit to cut down the angle on a Gustafsson slapper. The two would be teammates on the Washington Capitals for the better part of the 1980's.
Swedish defender Gunnar Persson. Team Sweden sported a polar bear crest as well as a polar bear on each shoulder. And stripes, lots of stripes.
Gretzky et al whooping it up after equalizing the game 4-4 late in the third. 
Future Montreal Canadiens star Mats Naslund getting worked on by the trainer. He topped Sweden in the tournament with 10 points in 7 games.



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