Dining on Danish

By all accounts the Danish team is having a rather enjoyable time of it in Alberta, despite the rather large deficits that they're accumulating on the ice.

Thursday night, Denmark met up with Canada, a game that they probably knew going in was not going to be a mark in their W column, and as the result showed, up agains the juggernaut of the Canadian team it was all the Danes could do to keep it competitive.

If not for a couple of lapses in the third period Canada most likely would have recorded back to back shut outs at the World Juniors, but, as is always the case when you lose your focus the opposition can make a bit of headway at your expense.

Still, with but two goals to collect the Danes were the longest of long shots to stage an upset at the tournament. As they worked their way towards ten, the Canadians really were in no danger of losing, though with such wide margins of victory as collected thus far, it's hard to get a read as to how Canada will compare when they go up against the other teams finding success so far at the tournament.

The first big test was thought to be on the way on New Year's Eve when Team Canada takes on the USA squad, but with the Americans getting shocked in two consecutive games now they find themselves out of the medal hunt already, hardly cause to celebrate the end of the year and the dawning of the new one to come.

Instead, the Americans will now have to battle through the relegation round, just to save themselves the uncomfortable scenario of being removed from the IIHF's A pool and relegated to the B line, a place we imagine Denmark is probably heading after their brief trip to the top level of international junior hockey.

The Americans we suspect will fight through the next few games past the Canadian one to make sure they don't drop off the A level radar, for Denmark, a bit of time on the B list is probably going to work in their favour.

Crowd favourites through their stay, they seem to exhibit the persona of the expression just happy to be here, all good times come to an end however and without a victory or two, we will most likely be bidding Denmark adieu for a year.

Canada plays the USA on New Years Eve, secure in the knowledge that they have already secured a semi final spot, offering head coach Don Hay an opportunity to work his line combinations a bit and get some valuable playing time to the third line, something that may come in handy when the likes of Sweden and Finland appear on the Canadian radar again.

Globe and Mail-- Canada romps past Denmark
National Post-- Canada stays perfect in decisive defeat of Denmark
Calgary Sun-- Canada downs Denmark
Toronto Star-- Canadian juniors hang 10 on Denmark