Canada goes thru the USA.

The IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships semifinal matches were played today and Canada managed to qualify for gold medal game presented tomorrow with a 4-1 victory over the USA.

With the win, Canada qualified for the gold medal game for a 7th year in a row and will try to win a 4th consecutive gold medal.

Today, the canadians played an inspired game and early during the second period, Shawn Matthias opened the score for Canada with a shot that went thru the US goaltender's pads. Then on a power play, defensemen Karl Alzer doubled Canada’s lead with his first goal of the tournament.

In the third period, Canada struck quickly as Colton Gillies and Brad Marchand scored in a 20 seconds span to completely stun the americans. The USA avoided the shutout late in the game with a goal scored in a desperate cause.

Steve Mason blocked 36 of the 37 shots he faced for Canada. His performance today will completely silence those who were questionning the goaltender choice made by canadian head coach Craig Hartsburg.

Canada will have a chance to avenge their only loss of the tournament as they will face Sweden in tomorrow's gold medal game. Sweden defeated Russia 2-1 in overtime and also qualified for the gold medal game today.

Sweden defeated Canada 4-3 during the group phase of the competition.

(Picture: Canadian Press.)