Personal accolades were likely little solace to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins at the World Junior Hockey championships in Ufa, Russia.
The No. 1 overall draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers in 2011 earned a second player of the game commendation and was further selected at forward to the media all-tournament team, following Canada's 6-5 overtime loss to Russia in the bronze-medal final on Saturday.
The United States went to defeat defending champion Sweden 3-1 in the gold-medal final, also played on Saturday.
Nugent-Hopkins scored a goal and assisted on three more to pace the Canadians, who never led against the host Russians in the consolation final.
The loss by Canada left the national team in fourth place and without a medal for the first time in 14 consecutive years at the world tournament.
Canada finished first in its pool with a 4-0 record, including wins over both the U.S. and Russia.
But in the games that counted, Canada came out second-best to the eventual champion Americans, 2-1 in the semifinals, and the host Russians.
Canada trailed 2-0 early in the first period, but Nugent-Hopkins shaved the deficit in half with his fourth goal of the competition at 6: 58 of the opening stanza.
A minute later, the Russians re-established a two-goal lead, but later in the period, Nugent-Hopkins set up Jonathan Huberdeau on a power play to bring the visitors to within a goal.
The Burnaby Winter Club product set up Mark Scheifele to tie the contest at 3-3 on a Canadian power play.
He also drew a third power-play assist on Ryan Murphy's 4-4 goal later in the middle period.
Nugent-Hopkins led all tournament scorers with four goals and 11 assists, and was a plus-six in the competition.
tberridge@burnabynow. com
