It was a forgettable World Junior tournament for Team USA this time around. After pouring millions of dollars into their junior development program, Team USA failed to meet expectations and found themselves in a consolation fifth place game against the Czech Republic. Stars like Colin Wilson and James van Riemsdyk were supposed to dominate the tournament this year, but both were conspicuously absent in Team USA’s biggest games. As is the case with most skilled hockey players, however, you can’t keep them off the scoresheet forever. James van Riemsdyk answered his critics with a spectacular overtime game-winning goal against the Czech Republic in yesterday’s fifth place game. Cutting in front of the net, van Riemsdyk dropped the puck back and shot it through his own legs to fool the Czech goalie. It looked like a bit of a hotdog goal, and perhaps van Riemsdyk might not have tried it in a gold medal game, but with nothing to lose he pulled it off, and scored arguably the nicest goal of the tournament to give his team a 3-2 win over the Czech Republic and claim fifth place. Check out the video of James van Riemsdyk’s incredible between the legs goal below:
