5 greatest moments in WJHC history
The world juniors is a holiday tradition like none other.
The annual holiday tournament provides a glimpse into the NHL's future, as the world's top under-20 players gather for international supremacy.
There have been countless memorable moments since its official inauguration in 1977, and here are the top five.
5. Zibanejad delivers gold for Sweden
Both Sweden and Russia advanced to the 2012 final in Calgary after narrow victories over respective arch-rivals Finland and Canada, and together provided a game for the ages.
The game was scoreless after three periods, forcing sudden-death overtime. Creating something out of nothing, Swedish forward Mika Zibanejad darted to a loose puck to spring a break, then converted the breakaway chance.
Russian goaltender Andrei Makarov recorded 56 saves in the loss, as Sweden won its second-ever gold medal.
4. Russia stuns Canada with 3rd period comeback
Appearing in their 10th consecutive final, Team Canada sought it's sixth gold medal in a row, as they took on Russia in 2011 in Buffalo.
The Canadians jumped out to a 3-0 lead entering the third period, when Russia's attack - featuring the likes of current NHL superstars Artemi Panarin, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Evgeny Kuznetsov - launched a full-fledged barrage with five unanswered goals in the final frame.
It was the biggest comeback in WJHC history, as Russia won its first gold since 2003.
3. Finland captures gold on home soil
Finland delivered for its home crowd in 2016.
Pitted against Russia in the gold-medal final, Finland erased an early deficit in the third on a goal from Patrik Laine. After Russia regained the lead less than two minutes later, the Finns scored two goals and went ahead with only three minutes on the clock.
With six seconds remaining, Andrei Svetlakov knotted things at three, forcing overtime.
Kasperi Kapanen was the hero, converting a golden wraparound in OT to seal the deal. The incredibly talented Finnish team featured Laine and Kapanen, along with budding NHL prospects Jesse Puljujarvi, Mikko Rantanen, Sebastian Aho, and Olli Juolevi.
2. The Jonathan Toews Show
In Leksand, Sweden in 2007, the hockey world was first introduced to the clutch nature of Jonathan Toews.
Team Canada and Team USA were matched together in the semifinals, and after three periods and overtime solved nothing, the bitter enemies were forced to a shootout.
International rules permit repeated shooters after teams send their initial trio, so Canada picked Toews three times, and he converted all three with an ice-cold demeanor.
The shootout lasted a tense seven rounds, ultimately ending with Carey Price stopping Peter Mueller to send Canada to the gold-medal game.
1. 5.4 seconds
Jordan Eberle cemented his name into Canadian hockey history in 2009 in Ottawa.
Trailing 5-4 to Russia in the semifinals, an ill-advised attempt at Canada's empty net resulted in an icing call, and brought the puck back to the Russian zone.
The puck never left, and John Tavares proceeded to shovel a loose puck at the net, where Eberle found the rebound and converted the chance with only 5.4 seconds remaining in the third period.
Eberle followed up with the shootout-winning goal to oust the Russians, as Canada advanced to win its fifth consecutive gold medal days later.