'Make our country proud': Canada, U.S. set for New Year's Eve clash at world juniors

Canada was in big trouble on an important night.

It was New Year's Eve at the 2009 world junior hockey championship. The United States had jumped out to a 3-0 lead not even 13 minutes into the first period.

That's when John Tavares took over and dragged his country back into the fight.

Dave Cameron, head coach of this year's Canadian team, was an assistant on Pat Quinn's staff with a front-row seat to the spectacle that followed.

"Game had everything," he said. "Junior hockey being junior hockey, it's never over."

Tavares scored twice in quick succession and Jordan Eberle tied the game before the period was out in front of a delirious, well-lubricated holiday crowd in Ottawa. Canada would go on to win 7-4 — and eventually took gold — with Tavares completing a memorable hat trick into an empty net.

Canada and the U.S. will face off in the same building exactly 16 years later Tuesday night as the rivals meet again at what should be an electric Canadian Tire Centre.

"The atmosphere is going to be so cool," Canadian captain and Winnipeg Jets prospect Brayden Yager said. "We don't like those guys over there. We want to make our country proud."

There's also a lot more to play for than simply pride with first place in Group A at the under-20 tournament on the line.

"A lot of people will be watching," said Canadian forward and Toronto Maple Leafs first-round pick Easton Cowan. "Something you dream of as a kid."

The North American rivals have both had up-and-down showings so far in the nation's capital.

Canada, which finished a disappointing fifth last year and is aiming for its 21st gold medal, opened with a 4-0 victory over Finland before a shock 3-2 shootout loss to Latvia and an unconvincing 3-0 triumph against Germany.

The U.S., which won its sixth world junior crown 12 months ago in Sweden, thumped Latvia 10-4, beat Germany 5-1 and then lost 4-3 to Finland in overtime.

A victory for either team will set up a more favourable quarterfinal matchup — at least on paper — against Slovakia, Switzerland or Kazakhstan. A loss would mean a showdown with Sweden or The Czech Republic.