Jacobs, Godbout shine in Youth Olympic Games

By Stefan Kubus –

Every two years, the Youth Olympic Games lets the world’s most athletically-talented 14-18 year olds do what they do best – compete. And it’s always more special to follow those with a hometown connection.

These games began back in the summer of 2010, coinciding with the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, and are staggered every two years between summer and winter events, akin to the Olympic Games format.

Two young men to keep in mind going forward from this inaugural 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games are Michigan’s own Joshua Jacobs and Marcel Godbout.

Jacobs, a Shelby Township native on the verge of his 17th birthday, represented his country on the blue line. He currently plays for the midget minor Detroit Honeybaked club. Just last season, Jacobs tallied 28 points in 31 games for Belle Tire; very impressive numbers for a defenseman.

After posting 24 goals and 49 points in 31 games with Belle Tire in 2009-10, the 15-year-old Godbout moved on to perhaps the nation’s most famous hockey prep school – Shattuck St. Mary’s – where the likes of Sidney Crosby, Jack Johnson and Ryan Malone played before beginning careers in the NHL.

On Tuesday, USA edged out Finland 5-4. The Americans finish the opening round 2-1, including a 7-2 opening win over Austria, in which Godbout, the Center Line native, recorded two goals and an assist. The lone loss came at the hands of their rivals north of the border, a 5-1 decision dropped to Canada. Jacobs had the lone assist on USA’s only goal against the Canadians.

In the final preliminary game, the Russians were simply too much for the U.S., outgunning the Americans 7-1, while doubling their shots 30-15.

It wasn’t a promising outlook following that evening, as just two days later, the United States had another date with Russia in the semifinal. Although this one was a closer match-up, the Americans fell once again, a 5-2 decision this time. Russia earned themselves a birth in the gold medal game, where they would fall to Finland 2-1.

The bronze medal game held another rematch. This time, it would be a second crack at the Canadians. After being outshot 27-16 in their first meeting, there’s no doubt that question marks were looming over how the U.S. would respond. However, the Americans astonishingly outshot Canada 40-19. Unfortunately, their own goaltending was something of a weakness. U.S.A. outshot Canada 13-7 heading into the locker room after one period, yet Canada walked off with the 3-1 lead.

Facing a seemingly insurmountable 4-1 defect after two periods of solid goaltending, the Americans mustered a promising comeback. The U.S. came back to within two with about seven minutes to play, including a goal set up by Jacobs, but that would be all for the Americans. Though outscoring the Canadians 3-0 in the third, the the U.S. suffered a 7-5 loss for a fourth place finish at the inaugural event.