Hodgson, Vancouver's "Next One" delivers in gold medal game

by Sean Zandberg on Jan 5, 2009 11:32 PM PST Comment 11 comments

Cody Hodgson not only led Team Canada to a World Junior Championship gold with 3 points in the gold medal game, or led all players in scoring in the tournament. I think he has given Canucks fans some serious optimism about his future with our team.
Although John Tavares was named tournament MVP, TSN's Bob McKenzie said post game that he thought Hodgson was the best all-round player. That is a hard point to argue. Hodgson was named tournament first team all star as a forward with Tavares and Nikita Filatov.
Hodgson was drafted by the Canucks not only for his scoring and play making abilities, but also for his leadership and character skills. There is no doubt that he has all of the above qualities.
His time will come in Vancouver.

As a side note: Swedish goalie Jacob Markstrom played like a fool tonight. The Swedish team and media are angered at the lack of goaltender interference calls. But Markstrom dives so much he should get drafted by the Penguins. An embarrassment.
As soon as we went up 2-0 I knew the Swedes were "shitting in their pants." What a gutsy game.

Hodgson post game interview.

Hodgson is scoring at nearly a 2-points-per-game pace with the Brampton Battalion this season as well.

Nice draft steal by Mike Gillis. Hodgson could be the next Trevor Linden, in a sense.
Exciting stuff. Congrats Cody and Team Canada on a deserved gold medal.

T Tags: Canada+wins+gold World+Junior+Championships 2009 Cody+Hodgson

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Hodgson has indeed been good in the tourney...but, c'mon...he led in points because he had Tavares on the same line! When Hodgson gets to the Canucks, he'll maybe have all Swede's...no finish.

by GZ Expat on Jan 6, 2009 3:55 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Oh yeah, I'm not saying he's going to be a Gretzky. When I say "Next One" I mean the next Trevor Linden perhaps.

by Sean Zandberg on Jan 6, 2009 12:50 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I think he looked really good in the juniors. he is good on the PP, great on the PK and has a really good hockey sense. He is not overly big, but I don't think I saw him get hit at all yesterday. He gets the puck, makes his play and avoids the check.

I am pretty stoked about him, and think he will be the canucks best 1st round draft pick in a long time.

by Steve on Jan 6, 2009 3:43 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I agree, Steve. Actually, I saw Hodgson hitting Swedes last night.

by Sean Zandberg on Jan 6, 2009 4:59 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

he led in points because he had Tavares on the same line!

One wonders who his line mates are in Brampton. They are clearly the reason he's averaging two points per game.

Or, they aren't.

Tavares looked good at the start of the tournament but Hodgson was quality from start to finish. The only reason he wasn't selected as tourny MVP was because the officials made their selection halfway through the second period, and Hodgson hadn't scored his goal against Sweden.

by Temujin on Jan 6, 2009 5:30 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Well, Tavares did have 8 goals though...

by Sean Zandberg on Jan 6, 2009 6:05 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Because he was on a line with Hodgson :-)

He didn't score in the semi-finals against Russia, or the finals against Sweden. Three of his goals came against the US in the quarter-final, and two against Kazakhstan in the 15-0 laugher.

He's a damn good player, but wasn't the MVP of the tourney, imo. Whoever drafts him is sure to benefit.

The Canucks will benefit more with Hodgson though!

by Temujin on Jan 6, 2009 6:19 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Interesting stats. Thanks Jin. You may be on to something.

by Sean Zandberg on Jan 6, 2009 7:16 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Now, where's the Wisers? I'm even more intelligent after a few drinks...

by Temujin on Jan 6, 2009 7:34 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

a worse poker player maybe..haha

by Sean Zandberg on Jan 6, 2009 8:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Based on past history, you are correct.

Laugh it up, jagoff! One of these days I'll learn not to play while intoxicated. And then I'll take all yer money.

by Temujin on Jan 6, 2009 9:42 PM PST reply actions 0 recs