In Pat Quinn's Entourage, there are a whole bunch of Johnny Dramas.
Johnny Tavares, the five "E"s (Tyler Ennis, Ryan Ellis, Angelo Esposito, Jordan Eberle, Evander Kane) ... an entire Canadian club that will be chasing Gold (not Ari) in the world junior championship title match tonight.
Is there any way the final can be any more exciting, suspenseful, fun to watch than the two games played before it?
Absolutely impossible.
How's your heart, Coach Quinn?
Coach Quinn?
"At the end of the day, they're kids. They make errors. This is a young group of men trying to be real good," said the 65-year-old bench boss, whose players were far, far from perfect in Saturday's semi-final win over the Russians.
"We are where we wanted to be," Quinn added later. "I don't know what the result will be, but I guarantee our kids will try their ... best."
Has there been a more composed, seemingly relaxed individual at Scotiabank Place while the Canadians rebounded from a 3-0 deficit against the Americans and then performed the last seconds miracle to get to where they want to be?
Don't think so.
"He was so calm throughout the whole situation," said defenceman P.K. Subban. "I think that's what helped us. During this tournament, he has been phenomenal. I think it's the fact he's been around for so long, he's been in every situation. We always look to him in those situations to see how he carries himself. With 41 seconds left on the clock (Saturday), I remember he put us on the ice and said just go get it done, get the job done and let's get on with the game. So we went out there and we did it."
"After, he looked like it was just a normal game for him. That's something where we realize it's just a game."
Just the game of a lifetime, maybe.
After devouring the Russian bear, players gathered for their post-game pasta feast. Then they tried to hit the hay, except it's tough to sleep with your eyes locked in the wide open position.
"I was up for awhile," said captain Thomas Hickey. "I just waited to let the nerves calm down. Once they did I got to bed and slept like a rock. I was exhausted."
What time was that, Tom?
"About 3 a.m."
What were you doing until then?
"Watching sports highlights."
No wonder he couldn't sleep. His team was the lead story. The only story, really.
Colten Teubert, who like Hickey is a first-round pick of the Los Angles Kings, also had trouble grabbing some shuteye Saturday.
"It's crazy to say you were part of that kind of game," he said. "It's exciting for Canada, it shows our compete level, that we never quit, that we always have the heart and desire to win. We showed that with five seconds left.
"It's just another step in our dream," he added. "We've still got one more, so we're still climbing the ladder."
One more to go. Then Teubert, Hickey and the rest of Pat Quinn's Entourage can be Kings.
STARTS AND STOPS
Jacob Markstrom, who loves watching hockey and soccer on TV, read his book and had the set off while Canada battled Russian. "There's nothing we can do about it," said Markstrom, who is under contract to his Swedish team for one more year after this one. "It doesn't matter if it's Canada or Russia. Of course it's a lot of fun that we're playing against Canada." ... Teubert was not at all surprised by the heroics of Eberle, his Regina Pats teammate. "He's probably shot in a shootout for Regina 20 times, 15 times," said the big defenceman. "And he has scored on at least 75% of them. He does tend to score the shootout winner too. It's funny. He gets the game-winning goals all the time. He's that key player you want on the ice all the time, to score those big goals." How does he do in practice, Teubert was asked? "I think he's brutal in Regina," was his response as he fought back a smile. "Because he (goes up against) a great defenceman there, I don't know what his name is. He shuts him down every time."
BETWEEN PERIODS
Esposito says he is often asked if he is related to Phil, the Boston Bruin, and Tony, the Chicago Blackhawk, only to explain that no, but his uncle Phil works for Red Bull and his uncle Tony lives in Bermuda. He's never even met the NHL stars who have the same last name as he does. "I'd like to," he said. "(Phil) is one guy I always wanted to meet. I've never seen him play, other than (video) of the '72 Summit Series. I've read his book and he seems like a real funny guy. I've heard a lot of great stories about him." C'mon Phil. Give the kid a call.
THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMM...
When asked about his goaltending plans for tonight, Quinn said "I think I'll go with Tokarski. He's had the harder tests." The only tests, really ... How many times can Canada get up from a death bed? "Well a cat has nine lives, right?" said Esposito ... The thing you've got to like about TSN's Brent Wallace -- he does his work in the trenches, with the rest of us slug reporters. He doesn't flex his TSN muscle and speak to players and coaches on whatever side of the boundaries he feels like, as do his colleagues ... Team Canada assistant coach Guy Boucher resisted the temptation to sneak over to Gatineau and watch his Drummondville Voltigeurs play the Olympiques yesterday afternoon. "I'll let them be," he said, with a laugh. "Then I'll hammer them when I get back." And why not? The Volts had their 20-game unbeaten streak snapped last week ... An international joke for kids of all ages that is slowly making its way around the WJCs and befits the occasion: If you're a Canadian going into the bathroom and a Canadian leaving the bathroom, what we're you in the bathroom? A Canadian, right? Wrong? Ur-a-peein'.
