Team Canada beats Slovakia 5-1, meets Russia for gold at world juniors

Canada's Nic Petan (19) celebrates after scoring his third goal of the game during the third period of semifinal hockey action against Slovakia at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Toronto on Sunday, Jan.4, 2015. CP

Stephen Whyno The Canadian PressFans at Air Canada Centre sweated through a tense first period and watched Slovak goaltender Denis Godla make save after save. By the time Canada’s world junior team pulled away in the third, the crowd was able to exhale and chant: “We Want Russia,” “We Want Gold” and even sing a full rendition of “O Canada.”

In beating Slovakia 5-1 Sunday night in the semifinals, Canada emerged from its first adversity of the tournament to reach the gold-medal game. The showdown with Russia is one the Canadians are more prepared for than they were through the first five games.

“We thought it was good for us to have that game tonight,” coach Benoit Groulx said. “You’ve got to know how to play in a tournament (in) that type of game. We kept our calm, we made some mistakes but I think we will learn from it.”

Ottawa Senator's Curtis Lazar named captain of Canada world junior hockey team

KELSEY PATTERSON Canadian press
The always good-humoured Ottawa Senators rookie on Monday was named captain of Canada’s junior hockey team for the upcoming world championship in Toronto and Montreal.

“I’m very honoured to have this opportunity, and I’m going to take full advantage of it and go out there and play hard for my country,” Lazar told reporters at a hockey charity event in Montreal. “I know there’s a lot of responsibility that comes along with this, but I’m just going to try to take it in stride and be myself.”

Canadian female runners set Guinness record on treadmills

CTV Reports- A Canadian team of female runners will be inducted into the Guinness World Records Thursday night for running the greatest distance on a treadmill in 12 hours.

The team of 12 runners was participating in a 12-hour Megathon to raise money for the YMCA’s charitable fund, “The Strong Kids Campaign.”

Each woman ran either two 30-minute segments or one full hour consecutively between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. for a total of 171.7 km.

While the event happened back in March, representatives from the Guinness World Records in London only recently confirmed the record.

Canada loses U-20 opener 1-0 to Ghana in FIFA U-20 Women's WorldCup

Canada's Emma Fletcher (right) is tackled by Cynthia Yiadom during first half action in 2014 FIFA U-20 women's World Cup action in Toronto on Tuesday August 5, 2014.

The pressure of playing at home, in the biggest match of their young careers, proved costly for Canada’s under-20 women’s soccer team Tuesday.

The Canadians dropped a 1-0 decision to Ghana in the opening game for both teams of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, a disappointing result for a host team that’s hoping to go far in this tournament.

“This is our first major tournament, and also it’s at home, we had a lot of people in the stands for us. It was a little added pressure,” said forward Nichelle Prince. “We knew it was coming, but it’s kind of different when you step on the field, and we had to get adjusted to that. It took us a few minutes to do that.”

Sherifatu Sumaila scored the game’s lone goal in the 22nd minute against a Canadian team that was on its heels in the early going. Sumaila capitalized on a cross from Edem Atovor, pouncing on a rebound after Canada’s ‘keeper Kailen Sheridan had pushed a shot away.

“I don’t think it was too much pressure, but it was certainly new pressure,” said Canadian coach Andrew Olivieri. “The biggest word right now is ‘adapt’ for them.”

Olivieri also said it was “a bit of a curse” not having to go through a qualifying tournament prior to the World Cup — Canada automatically qualified as the host country.

So Canada was lacking big-game experience “. . . not playing in big matches that you have to win. So this is the first match they’re faced with the need to get a result,” he said.

Top Five Outstanding Canadians At Commonwealth Games 2014

Patricia Bezzoubenko of Canada kisses her three gold and one bronze medals after the Rhythmic Gymnastics Individual finals at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre Precinct during the Commonwealth Games 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday July 26, 2014. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Canada finished a strong third in the overall medal tally at this year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, behind powerhouses England and Australia.

More than 260 Canadian athletes took part in the multi-sport, 10-day event, creating dozens of memorable moments that will likely fuel many of the athletes as they train for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto and the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Overall, Canada raked in an impressive 82 medals at this year's games – 32 gold, 16 silver and 34 bronze. Here are five Canadian athletes that stood out:

Sultana Frizell, hammer throw
The 29-year-old Perth, Ont., native shattered three Commonwealth records in Glasgow and defended her gold medal from four years ago when she threw 71.69 metres in the hammer throw. Frizell, who will be Canada’s flagbearer during Sunday's closing ceremony, is currently ranked fourth in the world.

Canada's Damian Warner wins Commonweal​th Games decathlon

Jim Steacy pulled the Canadian flag tighter around his broad shoulders, and with tears in his eyes said "This is for her."

Steacy won gold in the hammer throw Tuesday at the Commonwealth Games in what he called the perfect ending to what has been the toughest of seasons for the 30-year-old from Lethbridge, Alta.

He dedicated the victory to his mom Debby, who died suddenly in April.

"It's a good way to finish off," he said quietly.

Steacy's victory was a highlight on a good night on the track for Canada. Damian Warner of London, Ont., won the men's decathlon in dominant fashion, Kate Van Buskirk of Toronto was third in the women's 1,500 metres, and Brianne Theisen-Eaton and Jessica Zelinka finished Day 1 of the heptathlon 1-2.

Steacy's win was also his first major international victory since he won the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro.

"It's been a long time coming," he said.

What's kept him going?

"Trying to chase this feeling down," he said. "Honestly, this is why we do it. There is no money in this sport for us, especially in hammer. And to stand on the podium and get to wrap a flag around you like this, it's the best feeling in the world."

The six-foot-two thrower soaked up the atmosphere of a jam-packed crowd in the 44,000-seat Hampden Park to win with a throw of 74.16 metres. Nicholas Miller of England was second with 72.99, while Mark Dry of Scotland took bronze with 71.64.

"I knew the crowd noise was going to play a major part, the atmosphere has been fantastic, it was just so much fun," Steacy said.

How Team Canada Performed at Day 1 Commonwealth Games

Swimmer Ryan Cochrane won Canada's first gold medal of the Games when he repeated as champion in the men's 400m freestyle. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

A recap of the top moments for Canadian athletes on the opening day of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, including a pair of gold medals:

The waiting is the easiest part

Canada didn't have to wait for its first medal, as Victoria's Kirsten Sweetland took the silver in the women's triathlon — the first medal event of the Games.

Sweetland finished between a pair of Englishwomen: winner Jodie Stimpson and bronze medallist Vicky Holland.

The other two Canadian entries couldn't finish the race. Calgary's Ellen Pennock suffered a broken collarbone in a bike crash, and Winnipeg's Sarah-Anne Brault was ordered to drop out during the running leg in order to save herself for the relay event.

Sweetland, 25, has struggled with injuries for years, but she peaked at the right time. Less than two weeks ago, she reached the podium in a World Triathlon Series event for the first time in her career, finishing third in Hamburg.

Andrew Yorke of Hamilton, Ont., fell just short of a medal in the men's event, finishing fourth.

Hail to the Victorians

Later, another 25-year-old Victoria athlete won Canada's first gold of the Games when swimmer Ryan Cochrane repeated as champion in the men's 400-metre freestyle.

Top 10 Canadians to Watch in Sochi Olympics 2014

PATRICK CHAN: FIGURE SKATING After finishing fifth at his first Olympic competition in 2010, the Ottawa native, 23, is gunning for gold. If successful, the three-time and reigning world champion will become the first Canadian to take the highest spot on the Olympic podium in men’s figure skating. • Fun Fact: Patrick laced up as a boy because he wanted to play hockey.