John Tavares Scores Goal of the Year at IIHF World Juniors

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John Tavares goal against Slovakia

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sourced by Jon Azpiri

Canadian junior hockey phenom John Tavares scored one of the most amazing goals of the year in Canada's first game at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Ottawa.

Tavares scored an amazing goal during a 7-0 victory over Slovakia in a pre-tournament tune-up match. Tavares received a cross-ice pass from Vancouver Canucks draft pick Cody Hodgson and fired it at the net, only to be stopped by the Slovakian goalkeeper. Tavares then juggled the rebound in mid-air before swiping it into the net.

It's that sort of skill that has NHL teams salivating. The 18-year-old Tavares will almost certainly be the first overall pick in the 2009 NHL Draft.