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TORONTO -- Call it Vincent Lecavalier's coming out party. The Canadian centre recorded seven points -- including the game-winning goal in overtime against the Czech Republic in the semi-finals -- and was named the World Cup's most valuable player after his team's 3-2 win over Finland in the final last night.
Selected to replace the injured Steve Yzerman, Lecavalier emerged as a budding young superstar in earning his second championship of the summer after his Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup in June.
"It's a great honour to be part of this team," said Lecavalier, who had two goals and five assists in six games. The only player with more points was Sweden's Fredrik Modin, who had eight.
"When I found out I wasn't on the roster (during the NHL playoffs), I just tried to stay focused on winning the Stanley Cup.
"I heard Steve Yzerman might not play and I kept my hopes up and I was really happy. I made sure I showed up here in great shape. I was just proud to be part of this group. There were so many guys who could have been the MVP. It's a nice honour."
Yzerman took himself off the roster because he felt he wasn't completely ready to play after suffering a serious eye injury in last spring's playoffs.
Team Canada executive director Wayne Gretzky was proud of Lecavalier's accomplishments.
"When I called Vincent Lecavalier and let him know that he was going to be on the team, he was so excited about being a part of Team Canada," said Gretzky.
"He really did an outstanding job for this team. He's going to be here for a long time."
bruce.garrioch@ot.sunpub.com
