Congratulations to Angelo Esposito and Team Canada on winning gold last night at the World Junior Championship. Esposito scored Canada's second goal of the game and it stood up as the game-winner in the 5-1 victory over Sweden. How big if a deal is winning gold in this tournament? Well, it was Canada's fifth straight gold medal and Esposito's stick is headed to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Esposito had tried out for the team in three previous years but it took him his fourth try to crack the roster and if you ask him I'm sure he'll tell you that all of the heartache and frustration was worth it. As he told the Toronto Star:

Esposito has had a hectic year since getting traded to Atlanta from the Penguins in the Marian Hossa deal but it looks like he's on track to do great things at the next level. It speaks volumes about him that the Team Canada coaching staff played him with likely first overall pick Jonathan Tavares and that bodes well for his future in Atlanta.

Esposito news coverage:

The front page of NHL.com has the highlights embedded in the top story if you want to see Angelo's goal, which was a beauty.

Not to be overlooked is Nicklas Lasu who won silver with Sweden and impressed many onlookers with his physical play throughout the tournament. The Thrashers drafted Lasu in the fifth round this past summer.