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Gibson Shines in Men's Worlds Debut

05/08/2013, 6:00pm EDT
By Brian Pinelli - Special to USAHockey.com

Just 19-years-old, John Gibson was both thrown into the fire and given a golden opportunity when U.S. head coach Joe Sacco advised the young netminder that he would get the start in goal against Finland on Wednesday night.

The 6’3” goaltender did not disappoint in his U.S. senior national team debut.

Displaying calm and composure beyond his years, Gibson delivered an impressive performance, making huge saves when it mattered most and helping to lead the U.S. past Finland 4-1. The victory, coming less than 24 hours after a tough loss to Russia, improved Team USA’s record to 3-1 at the IIHF World Championship.

“I felt like we put him in the soup right away against Finland,” said U.S. captain Paul Stastny, who contributed two assists to the victory. “A kid like that doesn’t go out there and think, he just plays. He made some huge saves and is basically the reason we won.”

On what was a busy night, Gibson turned aside 31 of 32 shots thrown at him by an opportunistic Finnish team, which was urged on by more than 12,000 enthusiastic fans in a very loud and sold-out Hartwall Arena.

“It’s exciting, obviously anytime you can represent your country and win … it’s an honor,” said Gibson after the victory. “Tonight was a big game playing Finland here in Finland and we just wanted to play our game and get a win.”

“He’s a great kid and works so hard,” said Craig Smith, who scored a hat trick in the 4-1 triumph. “For him to step up in net and get a win for us, I’m not surprised at all.”

“I think it was a real good showing, a real good performance by Gibson tonight,” Sacco said. “He looked mature in net, he looked solid, like he was trying to take charge. He made some big saves for us, especially in the first two periods which allowed us to stay in the game.”

Some of his best saves came at critical junctures. With the game knotted 1-1 in the second period, Gibson stopped a barrage of three shots in rapid succession. In the sequence, he denied a sneaky wrap-around attempt and also demonstrated lightning quick reflexes with a scintillating glove save on a hard shot from point blank range.

“It was just desperation there, sometimes you have to do whatever you can to keep out the puck and I was just being desperate,” Gibson said about the three stops.

Then, with under 10 minutes remaining in the third period and the U.S. leading 2-1, Gibson stopped Sakari Salminen on a breakaway with an impressive sliding pad save. Less than 30 seconds later, U.S. forward Stephen Gionta scored to increase the U.S. lead to 3-1.

“I knew that once we got up, that they were going to come and get their chances and that’s what I’m there for,” Gibson said about the critical breakaway save. “I’ve got to help the team out, whether it’s a big save or what not and I was just trying to do my job.”

An empty net goal by Craig Smith, coming with 42 seconds on the clock, completed a hat trick for the U.S. forward and quickly silenced the Finnish faithful in the building.

Despite Gibson’s youth, the 6’3” goaltender is no stranger to international competition. He starred in goal, leading the U.S. to a gold medal, while earning tournament MVP honors at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ufa, Russia, which concluded in early January. Gibson posted a 5-2 record with a 1.36 GAA and an amazing .955 save percentage.

Gibson, whose NHL rights are owned by the Anaheim Ducks, also led the U.S. to its third successive IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship gold medal in 2011.

Sacco spoke about his decision to start the young goalie in a game of major importance.

“I think some of it has to be based on the future of USA Hockey,” Sacco said. He’s obviously an up-and-coming goaltender. I didn’t know much about him before the tournament, but all the comments were very high and he had a very strong tournament at the world juniors.

“And the reason for making tonight’s decision was based on the fact that we played four games and five days and goaltenders need rest,” Sacco said, referring to Ben Bishop who had the night off after three consecutive starts in goal.

The U.S. has the next two days off after playing four games in five nights and will return to the ice against France on Saturday.

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