The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

It's that time again, when all of the hockey community gathers to see the new up and coming talent play in one of the greatest hockey tournaments, the World Junior Hockey Championships or as I call it the WJCs. The site of this year's tournament is none other than the hometown of USA Hockey & Chicago Blackhawks star, Patrick Kane & where American goalie Ryan Miller plays in the NHL: Buffalo, New York.

What makes this year so different though is that for the first time in five years and only the second time in the history of the tournament the United States are defending champions.

If you didn't know last year the USA ended Canada's run of five straight gold medals last year on no less than Canadian ice in OT. Current Washington Capitals defensemen, John Carlson scored the gold medal winning goal.

What you most likely don't know is that the USA had been performing well in international tournaments beyond last year's gold medal. Jack Campbell who came into replace Mike Lee in the gold medal game, had won U-18 gold medal for the United States in April of 2009. He then later on won another U-18 gold medal for the USA in April of 2010. Making three trips to international tournaments and taking home three gold medals for the Dallas Stars prospect & current Windsor Spitfires goalie. However he wasn't the only one that accomplished this trifecta of gold medals Jason Zucker, a native of Las Vegas, NV, also a Minnesota Wild prospect & University of Denver Pioneer, was on those teams with Campbell as well. Not only that but Zucker is currently the leading scorer for University of Denver as a freshman.

Though the United States are defending champions and the term "favorite" has been thrown around, I have a hard time thinking the Canadians can be defined as a blue collar team. The Canadians boast a roster of 15 NHL first round picks. The Americans are no slouch though either with a roster of nine NHL first round picks and six second round picks, along with eight returners from last year's gold medal winning team.

With Canadian defeating Russia in their first game 6-3 and the Americans squeaking by with a 3-2 overtime win over the Finns, the tournament has all the components necessary for some interesting drama. Even if Jordan Eberle is no longer eligible to play. This year however unlike years past the USA and Canada are in separate pools meaning there will be no New Years Eve round robin match-up like there has been in the past. The first time the USA-Canada will meet, if they do, will be in the elimination rounds.

While most Americans don't pay much attention to WJCs, in Canada this tournament is like a yearly Olympics in which they expect nothing less than gold medal.

Personally for me WJCs is my favorite hockey tournament and seeing the change from the USA barely beating the Czechs in 09 for 5th place in overtime to winning the gold medal in overtime over five time champion Canada. Between last years' gold medal games in the WJCs and the Olympics, the USA-Canada rivalry seems to intensify even more.

And I can't lie I'm loving the view from the top as the Canadians grumble that the United States got lucky last year. Unfortunately for me I'll be on vacation from the 27th to the 3rd and it really does make me sad to miss these games.

The bottom line is that you're able to watch some future NHL stars playing on a big stage with the name of their country emblazoned on their jerseys. Their performances might just leave you frothing at the mouth imagining what they can one day do in the NHL.

So enjoy it, because it only comes around once a year.

And remember USA Hockey is do or die! GO USA!