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The World Junior Hockey Championship is back in Canada after two years overseas and the home team has come home hoping to end its medal drought. Canada’s failure to earn a medal over the past two years marks the first time since the start of the Program of Excellence in 1982 that the nation has returned empty-handed from back-to-back tournaments. Canada is also riding its second-longest gold medal drought, with 2015 marking the sixth tournament since the team last won gold. With the tournament back on Canadian ice – here’s a look at how the team has done in its own barn. This year marks the 11th time Canada has hosted since the tournament officially began in 1977. The first official tournament held in Canada was in Montreal in 1978. Team Canada earned a bronze medal behind a Soviet team led by Sergei Makarov and Vyacheslav Fetisov. But it was a standout performance that marked that tournament as special, with Wayne Gretzky making his lone appearance at the age of 16. Canada didn’t host again until 1986 when Hamilton welcomed the World Juniors back after a victorious 1985 tournament in Finland. Once again, the Soviets were dominant with Valeri Kamensky leading the way. A 14-point performance from Shayne Corson helped lead Canada to silver, improving upon its previous turn as hosts. In 1991, Canada got its first taste of home-ice glory in one of the tournaments that helped propel the World Juniors to its holiday classic status. For the second time on home ice, another phenom took over the tournament as 17-year-old Eric Lindros racked up 17 points and earned a tournament All-Star nod. That said, it wasn’t Lindros’ name that was synonymous with the Saskatoon tournament, but Newfoundland’s John Slaney. Canada and the Soviets were tied late in the tournament’s final game, with the Soviets knowing that a draw would be enough to earn them a gold medal under the round-robin format. In the final minute, Slaney’s slapper from inside the blue line found the back of the net and made Canada the first nation to ever win gold on home ice. The feat was repeated in 1995 with the NHL lockout allowing Canada to ice a truly dominant team in Red Deer, Alberta. The trio of Jason Allison, Marty Murray and Eric Daze combined for 40 points on a team that also featured future NHL stars Wade Redden, Ryan Smyth, Bryan McCabe, Jeff O’Neill and Ed Jovanovski. Heartbreak came at the end of the decade as Canada had to watch Russia win gold in 1999 and 2003. With the format changed to a gold medal game to decide the champion, the Russians edged Canada first with an overtime goal by Artem Chubarov in Winnipeg and with a two-goal third period comeback in Halifax. The tides turned back Canada’s way once more in the latter half of the 2000s. Team Canada won two gold medals at home within a four-year span as part of its second five-year dynasty in tournament history. The 2006 team was backstopped by Justin Pogge’s record three shutouts and a complete defensive effort that saw Canada allow just six goals over as many games. The 2009 tournament is another that lives on in Canadian World Junior lore. Trailing Russia late in their semifinal, Jordan Eberle scored one of the most iconic World Junior goals ever, tying the game with just five seconds left on the clock. The contest went to a shootout with - who else - Eberle providing the eventual game-winner with a beautiful backhand move. Canada handily beat Sweden in the gold medal game to earn its fifth straight title. The pendulum swung back to heartbreak in the tournaments Canada has hosted since. The year after Eberle thrilled Ottawa, it was American defenceman John Carlson who stunned fans in the gold medal game in Saskatoon. After yet another late-game thriller from Eberle to tie the game at five, an overtime rebound off an Alex Pietrangelo effort was taken the other way by the Americans with Carlson providing the dagger on a three-on-one. Canada returned home - specifically to host cities Calgary and Edmonton - looking for redemption in 2012. Down 5-1 in the second period of their semifinal against Russia, Canada stormed back to cut the deficit to just one goal late in the third period. The clock ran out, though and Canada eventually settled for bronze with a win over Finland. So, where does it leave Canada’s hopes for 2015 in Montreal and Toronto? To date, Canada has never failed to medal at home, so history favours an end to the medal drought. Also, given past performances of phenoms like Gretzky and Lindros at home, the table may well be set for a dominant showing from potential first-overall NHL draft pick Connor McDavid. Canada’s tournament totals are also better at home than overseas. Since the start of the Program of Excellence in 1982, Canada is 46-7-2 (.855 winning percentage) at home tournaments, earning four golds, four silvers and two bronze medals. By comparison, the nation is 119-33-17 (.754) abroad. One final trend to consider, quirky though it may be, is the calendar. Canada has won gold in every official tournament where the year has ended in “5”: 1985 in Finland, 1995 in Red Deer and 2005 in Grand Forks. Fans looking for more encouragement can also look to Grand Forks in 2005 – featuring the likes of Sidney Crosby, Patrice Bergeron, Jeff Carter and Dion Phaneuf – as the tournament that ended Canada’s longest gold medal drought in the official era, after seven straight failed attempts. Canada’s World Junior record at home (W-L-T): 1978 (Montreal): 4-2-0, bronze 1986 (Hamilton): 5-2-0, silver 1991 (Saskatoon): 5-1-1, gold 1995 (Red Deer): 7-0-0, gold 1999 (Winnipeg): 4-2-1, silver 2003 (Halifax): 5-1-0, silver 2006 (Vancouver): 6-0-0, gold 2009 (Ottawa): 6-0-0, gold 2010 (Regina/Saskatoon): 5-1, silver 2012 (Calgary/Edmonton): 5-1, bronze Wholesale Nike Air Max 270 .com) - The University of Montana named Bob Stitt as its new head football coach on Tuesday. Nike Air Max 270 Outlet .J. - Trying to learn and absorb the new West Coast offence being installed by new offensive co-ordinator Ben McAdoo, the New York Giants wrapped their final organized team activity Thursday before a three-day mini-camp next week. https://www.cheapnikeairmax270china.us/. Its been two seasons in one for both parties and neither will look back on the first 18 games fondly. "I think I took the fall for a lot of things," said Gay, reflecting on his short time in Toronto ahead of Wednesdays game against his former club. Nike Air Max 270 Sale . Winners of two straight, the Flames will try to become the first team in 25 years to go three consecutive games without taking a penalty Saturday night in San Jose. Cheap Nike Air Max 270 . New York then missed its next six shots and scored only two points the rest of the night. The Los Angeles Clippers defence and the Knicks general ineptitude both played a role in the unsurprising finish to a meeting of two teams headed in opposite directions.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - For a team that wasnt in the playoff hunt for most of the season and has missed the post-season the past three years, the New York Giants are heading into the off-season with a lot of optimism.It didnt make a difference that they posted a 6-10 record, had a seven-game losing streak that made the final month meaningless and had one of the NFLs worst defences.The great equalizer is Odell Beckham Jr. The rookie wide receiver embarrassed opposing defences, created an Internet frenzy with a one-handed catch, re-wrote some franchise records and tied Hall of Famer Michael Irvins NFL record with nine consecutive games of 90 yards receiving.Even more impressive: Beckham did it after missing most of training camp and the first four games of the regular season with a hamstring injury.He is the best rookie I have ever seen, hands down, 35-year-old placekicker Josh Brown said Monday as the Giants cleaned out their lockers. I have never seen somebody as athletic, who does it with such ease.Beckham has all the tools — speed, great hands, leaping ability, a keen mind and an enthusiasm for the game that sometimes gets the best of him.His 63-yard touchdown catch and run in the season-ending 34-26 loss to the Eagles on Sunday included a showboating back-pedal into the end zone and a fastball spike against a nearby wall after scoring his 12th TD of the season, which tied the Giants record for rookies.Hes a very passionate player. Thats just him. He makes plays. Hes very confident, said Eagles cornerback Jaylen Watkins, who played against Beckham in college. Hes thinking hes making the play every time it comes his way. Hes got a great quarterback and theyre on the same page. Hes fast. Hes all in one.Beckham had a lifetimes worth of highlight-reel moments this season and his final statistics were eye-popping. He had team highs of 91 catches for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 games.The growth that he made this season is pretty remarkable, and the impact he had on this offence was a great tribute to him and his work ethic, said Manning, who had 30 touchdowns, 14 interceptions and 4,410 yards in the new West Coast offence.ddddddddddddt will be nice to have him for a full year in the mix and knowing that he can make some big plays for us.Beckham admits he has to pick his fights next season, noting he put a target on his own back too many times. The experience has been fun.There is still so much I can look back on and I wish I couldve done that and I wish I couldve done this, Beckham said. It was great to get here and be able to learn and experience things, to get a year of experience underneath my belt and I am looking forward to next year with a smile.The Giants offence finished 10th in the league with a mediocre running game. Rookie Andre Williams led the team with 721 yards, but he did a lot of on the job training after Rashad Jennings was hurt.Rueben Randle had two phenomenal weeks to finish the season, Larry Donnell was a pleasant surprise in his first season as the starting tight end and receiving group will be even better if Victor Cruz comes back from his second knee injury.The future here is just unbelievable, fullback Henry Hynoski said. You just saw flashes of it this year with the playmakers weve got. Its going to be an exciting team to watch in the coming years.What has to improve is the defence. There were just too many big plays by opposing teams and the run defence was ranked No. 30.While it appears coach Tom Coughlin will survive the bad season, defensive co-ordinator Perry Fewell is on the hot seat despite having seven contributing members of his unit go on injured reserve. Overall, the Giants had 22 players on injured reserve.You just cant win that way, said middle linebacker Jon Beason, who ended up on injured reserve. Were not making excuses. Next man up for sure. But you just cant win that way.Cornerback Walter Thurmond III lasted less than two games before tearing a pectoral muscle.We just need to have that time just to gel, he said. There are so many guys who are vital parts that end up getting injured. So we never really got out there full strength.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '