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Junior Tourney Sparks Ribbing

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 4, 2008

MONTREAL - Lightning defensemen Doug Janik and Mike Lundin might feel a little isolated this afternoon when the team arrives in Ottawa. As the only two American-born players on the Tampa Bay roster, the pair will feel outnumbered when the U.S. takes on Canada this afternoon in the semifinals of the World Junior Championships, a game that will be televised live at 2 p.m. on the NHL Network.

"You guys don't really think you are going to beat Canada, do you?" Lightning D Shane O'Brien quipped when he overheard the line of questioning directed at Lundin and Janik on Thursday morning. "We invented junior hockey."

Lundin said there hasn't been much talk surrounding the Under-20 tournament taking place in the Czech Republic, "although something might brew up."

Even G Karri Ramo, who was part of the Finnish bronze-medal-winning team in 2006, escaped good-natured ribbing from his Canadian teammates after Canada defeated Finland 4-2 in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Tampa Bay had one prospect participate in the tournament this year, 2006 first-round pick G Riku Helenius, who appeared in four games for a Finland team that finished in sixth place after a loss to the Czech Republic on Thursday. Helenius allowed four goals on 25 shots in that game.

The Lightning have eight players on their rosters who have participated in the World Junior tournament - Chris Gratton (Canada, 1993), Jan Hlavac (Czech Republic, 1995, '96), Johan Holmqvist (Sweden, 1998), Andreas Karlsson (Sweden, 1995), Vinny Lecavalier (Canada, 1998), Brad Richards (Canada, 2000), Janik (U.S., 1999, 2000) and Ramo (2006).

HOMECOMING: Returning to Quebec to play against the hometown Canadiens offers a special thrill for any Montreal native. But for LW Mathieu Darche, it's a double bonus, as he not only gets to play in his hometown, but also where he played his college hockey.

A four-year star at McGill College, which is a five-minute drive from the Bell Centre, Darche played his third career game in his hometown, but first when he actually got to spend some time around family and friends.

In his first game in Montreal while playing with Columbus during the 2001-02 season, Darche was called up the day of the game and arrived shortly before game time. Tampa Bay's first game at Bell Centre this season came on the second half of back-to-back games, so he was in and out within 24 hours.

So Wednesday night, Darche went to dinner with some of his friends from college and bought dinner. It was easier for him than trying to buy tickets to Thursday's game.

"This is about as special as it can be for a player in this situation, to be able to come back and play in our hometown," he said. "And for me, having played college here just up the road, it means a lot."

Darche, 31, regularly attended Canadiens games while growing up - he estimated about 15 or so a season - and was fortunate enough to be in the stands for the final game in the Montreal Forum against Dallas on March 11, 1996.

"I just wish I would have the opportunity to play in the old Forum," Darche said.

NUTS AND BOLTS: LW Vinny Prospal played in his 365th game with the Lightning, tying him with captain Tim Taylor for 12th place on the franchise list. Prospal also extended his scoring streak to five games. ... Lecavalier recorded his 23rd multi-point game of the season. ... Tampa Bay fell to 1-12-1 when trailing after the first period.

Erik Erlendsson

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