The World Junior Hockey Championship is back in Canada after two years overseas and the home team has come home hoping to end its medal drought. Authentic Chris Campbell Jersey . Canada’s failure to earn a medal over the past two years marks the first time since the start of the Program of Excellence in 1982 that the nation has returned empty-handed from back-to-back tournaments. Canada is also riding its second-longest gold medal drought, with 2015 marking the sixth tournament since the team last won gold. With the tournament back on Canadian ice – here’s a look at how the team has done in its own barn. This year marks the 11th time Canada has hosted since the tournament officially began in 1977. The first official tournament held in Canada was in Montreal in 1978. Team Canada earned a bronze medal behind a Soviet team led by Sergei Makarov and Vyacheslav Fetisov. But it was a standout performance that marked that tournament as special, with Wayne Gretzky making his lone appearance at the age of 16. Canada didn’t host again until 1986 when Hamilton welcomed the World Juniors back after a victorious 1985 tournament in Finland. Once again, the Soviets were dominant with Valeri Kamensky leading the way. A 14-point performance from Shayne Corson helped lead Canada to silver, improving upon its previous turn as hosts. In 1991, Canada got its first taste of home-ice glory in one of the tournaments that helped propel the World Juniors to its holiday classic status. For the second time on home ice, another phenom took over the tournament as 17-year-old Eric Lindros racked up 17 points and earned a tournament All-Star nod. That said, it wasn’t Lindros’ name that was synonymous with the Saskatoon tournament, but Newfoundland’s John Slaney. Canada and the Soviets were tied late in the tournament’s final game, with the Soviets knowing that a draw would be enough to earn them a gold medal under the round-robin format. In the final minute, Slaney’s slapper from inside the blue line found the back of the net and made Canada the first nation to ever win gold on home ice. The feat was repeated in 1995 with the NHL lockout allowing Canada to ice a truly dominant team in Red Deer, Alberta. The trio of Jason Allison, Marty Murray and Eric Daze combined for 40 points on a team that also featured future NHL stars Wade Redden, Ryan Smyth, Bryan McCabe, Jeff O’Neill and Ed Jovanovski. Heartbreak came at the end of the decade as Canada had to watch Russia win gold in 1999 and 2003. With the format changed to a gold medal game to decide the champion, the Russians edged Canada first with an overtime goal by Artem Chubarov in Winnipeg and with a two-goal third period comeback in Halifax. The tides turned back Canada’s way once more in the latter half of the 2000s. Team Canada won two gold medals at home within a four-year span as part of its second five-year dynasty in tournament history. The 2006 team was backstopped by Justin Pogge’s record three shutouts and a complete defensive effort that saw Canada allow just six goals over as many games. The 2009 tournament is another that lives on in Canadian World Junior lore. Trailing Russia late in their semifinal, Jordan Eberle scored one of the most iconic World Junior goals ever, tying the game with just five seconds left on the clock. The contest went to a shootout with - who else - Eberle providing the eventual game-winner with a beautiful backhand move. Canada handily beat Sweden in the gold medal game to earn its fifth straight title. The pendulum swung back to heartbreak in the tournaments Canada has hosted since. The year after Eberle thrilled Ottawa, it was American defenceman John Carlson who stunned fans in the gold medal game in Saskatoon. After yet another late-game thriller from Eberle to tie the game at five, an overtime rebound off an Alex Pietrangelo effort was taken the other way by the Americans with Carlson providing the dagger on a three-on-one. Canada returned home - specifically to host cities Calgary and Edmonton - looking for redemption in 2012. Down 5-1 in the second period of their semifinal against Russia, Canada stormed back to cut the deficit to just one goal late in the third period. The clock ran out, though and Canada eventually settled for bronze with a win over Finland. So, where does it leave Canada’s hopes for 2015 in Montreal and Toronto? To date, Canada has never failed to medal at home, so history favours an end to the medal drought. Also, given past performances of phenoms like Gretzky and Lindros at home, the table may well be set for a dominant showing from potential first-overall NHL draft pick Connor McDavid. Canada’s tournament totals are also better at home than overseas. Since the start of the Program of Excellence in 1982, Canada is 46-7-2 (.855 winning percentage) at home tournaments, earning four golds, four silvers and two bronze medals. By comparison, the nation is 119-33-17 (.754) abroad. One final trend to consider, quirky though it may be, is the calendar. Canada has won gold in every official tournament where the year has ended in “5”: 1985 in Finland, 1995 in Red Deer and 2005 in Grand Forks. Fans looking for more encouragement can also look to Grand Forks in 2005 – featuring the likes of Sidney Crosby, Patrice Bergeron, Jeff Carter and Dion Phaneuf – as the tournament that ended Canada’s longest gold medal drought in the official era, after seven straight failed attempts. Canada’s World Junior record at home (W-L-T): 1978 (Montreal): 4-2-0, bronze 1986 (Hamilton): 5-2-0, silver 1991 (Saskatoon): 5-1-1, gold 1995 (Red Deer): 7-0-0, gold 1999 (Winnipeg): 4-2-1, silver 2003 (Halifax): 5-1-0, silver 2006 (Vancouver): 6-0-0, gold 2009 (Ottawa): 6-0-0, gold 2010 (Regina/Saskatoon): 5-1, silver 2012 (Calgary/Edmonton): 5-1, bronze Cheap Cardinals Jerseys Authentic . -- Michael Phelps is 0 for 1 in his comeback to the pool. Cheap Cardinals Jerseys .A. remained bitter for Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers on the long flight back home to New York. http://www.cheaparizonacardinalsjerseysauthentic.com/ .com) - Generally you want to be the guy who replaces the guy who replaced the legend. CHICAGO -- Chris Johnson can rest easy during the All-Star break. He earned a couple days off. Johnson had three hits, including his third homer in two days, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Chicago Cubs 10-7 on Sunday to keep pace with Washington at the top of the NL East. Johnson hit a long drive to straightaway centre field for a three-run shot in a four-run third inning against Travis Wood (7-8). Johnson also went deep twice in the Braves 11-6 victory at Wrigley Field on Saturday. "The biggest thing for me is the fact Im swinging at strikes," he said. "When I swing at strikes, I can do some good things." Atlanta (52-43) has won three of four since a four-game losing streak. It heads into the break one percentage point behind the division-leading Nationals, who won 10-3 at Philadelphia. "We had a pretty good first half, better than pretty good," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Now weve got to enjoy this break and come out in the second half and keep firing." The Braves played without struggling second baseman Dan Uggla, who was suspended by the team for the series finale at Chicago. Atlanta announced the punishment on its Twitter feed, with no further explanation, and Gonzalez called it an "internal matter." The last-place Cubs (40-54) have lost eight of 10. Arismendy Alcantara and Chris Coghlan each hit a two-run homer off All-Star Julio Teheran (9-6). It was the first career shot for the 22-year-old Alcantara, who also had a bloop double in the first and is batting .391 (9 for 23) in his first five major league games. "With my ability, Im having fun," Alcantara said. "It can be fast. Im having fun." Chicago scored three times in the eighth, highlighted by John Bakers two-run double, but Jordan Walden got Junior Lake to fly out to centre with a runner on second for the final out of the inning. All-Star Craig Kimbrel then worked the ninth for his 29th save in 33 opportunities. "We put ourselves in a position potentially to even edge closer, and we just fell a little short," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. Teheran pitched seven innings in his firstt start since a rough outing against the Mets. Authentic Mason Cole Jersey. The right-hander lasted just 3 1-3 innings in an 8-3 loss at New York on Tuesday. Teheran retired 12 in a row after Chicago put runners on first and second with two out in the first. He allowed seven hits while improving to 2-0 in four career starts against the Cubs. "I know that my last outing I didnt have a good outing," said Teheran, who is ineligible for the All-Star game because he started on Sunday. "Just trying to come back like I did twice this year." Wood was charged with seven runs and seven hits in six innings. The left-hander is 0-3 with a 6.49 ERA in his last five starts. Wood issued leadoff walks in the second, third and fourth innings, and the first two were costly. Gerald Laird had a two-run double in Atlantas three-run second, and Jason Heyward singled home a run before Johnson connected in the third. Johnsons sixth homer was part of his 30th multihit game of the season. The third baseman was walked intentionally in the seventh to get to Tommy La Stella, who doubled home three runs to give the Braves a 10-2 lead. The 34-year-old Uggla has played sparingly since La Stella was promoted from Triple-A Gwinnett on May 28. The three-time All-Star is batting .162 with two homers and 10 RBIs in 48 games. Gonzalez said he expects Uggla to be with the team when it resumes play on Friday night against the Phillies. He also isnt worried about the effect of the suspension on his team. "I dont think so. I got a pretty good pulse of our clubhouse," he said. "If anybody wants to talk to me, my door is always open. And they know that." NOTES: Atlanta also promoted INF Phil Gosselin from Gwinnett before the game. ... Wood will start Chicagos second game after the All-Star break. RHP Edwin Jackson (5-10, 5.64 ERA) starts the series opener Friday night, and RHP Jake Arrieta (5-1, 1.95 ERA) pitches next Sunday against the Diamondbacks. ... RHP Ervin Santana (7-6, 4.01 ERA) will start Friday night against Philadelphia in Atlantas first game after the break. But Gonzalez said he wasnt sure just yet how the rest of the rotation would line up. Cheap Canadiens Jerseys Cheap Predators Jerseys Cheap Devils Jerseys Cheap Islanders Jerseys Cheap Rangers Jerseys Cheap Senators Jerseys Cheap Flyers Jerseys Cheap Penguins Jerseys Cheap Sharks Jerseys Cheap Blues Jerseys Cheap Lightning Jerseys Cheap Maple Leafs Jerseys Cheap Canucks Jerseys Cheap Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Capitals Jerseys Cheap Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '