USA defeated Canada 5-4 in a shootout last night in Montreal in "one of the best World Junior Championship gold medal games ever played." USA Hockey's "first gold medal" since '13 came before a near-capacity Bell Centre crowd of 20,380 (TSN.ca, 1/5). Team USA C Troy Terry's decisive shootout goal came after 80 minutes of "non-stop action and heart-rending drama" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 1/6).

There has been talk that Montreal "should be embarrassed by the small crowds" for the World Juniors, but "another way to look at it is that the city should be proud of itself for refusing to be gouged by ridiculously high prices." Thankfully for tournament organizers, Team Canada "made it to the gold-medal game to fill up the Bell Centre and Montreal showed yet again it is an 'event' city." IIHF President René Fasel yesterday "suggested Montrealers only care about the Canadiens, which is why the junior ticket sales were so weak" (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 1/6).

Events DC last night showed off a new plan for RFK Stadium in which parking lots around the venue would be turned into a $490M complex featuring a "spacious sports center, community market and a new memorial to Robert F. Kennedy Jr." The stadium is "expected to largely empty" by '18 or '19 when DC United moves to a new home. Rather than focusing on how to bring back the Redskins or build a new arena for the Wizards and Capitals – two ideas that "remain possibilities" – the plans "focus on community amenities to replace surface parking lots to the north and south of RFK" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/6).

Meanwhile, RFK has been "tentatively selected to host" a USWNT match in early March. The game "would be part of the SheBelieves Cup," a weeklong women's soccer tournament (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 1/5).

Long term design concept view from the east #RFKCampusFuture pic.twitter.com/HjZY49fijX

— Events DC (@TheEventsDC) January 6, 2017

Colts coach Chuck Pagano has “received assurance from team owner Jim Irsay” he will return for the '17 season, according to a source. The status of Colts GM Ryan Grigson is unknown, but it would be a surprise “if he's fired.” Irsay “likes him a lot” and “wants him to succeed” (TWITTER.com, 1/6). Irsay and Grigson “have shown themselves to be very like-minded,” and each has “expressed the belief that Pagano might benefit from an edgier coaching style” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/6).

The U.S. Soccer Federation BOD today will "take its long-awaited vote on pro league sanctioning" for '17. The growing USL has applied to be "raised from third to second division status." NASL now appears "barely viable" and "hopes simply to survive." It is "understood that USSF has little to no interest in having two leagues occupy the same tier, even though there's no bylaw explicitly preventing it" (SI.com, 1/5).

The Bruins last night "said farewell" to Hockey HOFer Milt Schmidt, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 98. Prior to the game against the Oilers, with the lights at TD Garden "all but turned out," PA announcer Jim Martin "narrated the five-minute farewell." The "traditional moment of silence was replaced by the crowd cheering and applauding" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/6).

During tonight's game, we pay tribute to the Ultimate Bruin, Milt Schmidt. pic.twitter.com/ZoIzrCHDRN

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) January 6, 2017

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho today gave his "unqualified backing" to FIFA’s plans to "expand the World Cup to 48 teams, declaring himself 'totally in favour' of the move." Mourinho is the "biggest name yet to endorse the controversial revamp of the game's flagship event from 2026, which is almost certain to be ratified on Tuesday." He said, "It’s important for critics to analyse and understand that expansion doesn’t mean more matches" (TELEGRAPH.co.uk, 1/6).

EPL club Everton today announced that its training ground will be renamed USM Finch Farm as "part of a five-year sponsorship deal with a Russian holding company" (AFP, 1/6).

The Titans have promoted GM Jon Robinson to Exec VP & GM. The move "doesn't change his job responsibilities" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 1/5).

Timbers Owner Merritt Paulson said that the club is "going after a 'high-level' designated player" and is now "'close' to signing the player" (Portland OREGONIAN, 1/6).

"This is nirvana, tennis heaven. This is truly the home of American tennis" – USTA Chair, President & CEO Katrina Adams, unveiling the organization's new National Campus in Lake Nona, Fla. (AP, 1/5).

"I'm going to run for governor. I think we can do a lot of good. I've spent my life serving my fellow man. I thought I would continue doing that" – Former NFLer Rosey Grier, announcing his candidacy for the '18 California gubernatorial race (THEHILL.com, 1/5).

"I wanted to stop the streak. Who wouldn't want to stop the streak? I'm lying if I said I wasn't thinking about it" – Capitals RW Justin Williams, on the team's 5-0 home win against the Blue Jackets to prevent that team tying an NHL-record 17-game win streak (WASHINGTON POST, 1/6).

"We know that people wanna see this fight. The local marketplace is telling us that. We have sold over 50 percent of our tickets during the holidays. ... People typically don't buy tickets over the holiday" – Roc Nation President & Chief of Branding Strategy Michael Yormark, on the Feb. 25 Miguel Cotto-James Kirkland fight in Frisco, Texas. Roc Nation promotes Cotto (BOXINGSCENE.com, 1/5).

In a special to the HOUSTON CHRONICLE, CBS Sports Network's Amy Trask writes, "I worked for the Raiders – for Al Davis – for almost three decades. Al cannot be easily described. He was an enigmatic and extraordinary man."

The WASHINGTON POST examines the Berger v. NCAA case, and its dismissal by the U.S. Court of  Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, under the header, "Are College Athletes The Same As Prisoners? These Judges Seem To Think So."

Also: 

• D-backs fighting a "losing battle" in attempt to break Chase Field lease.
• NFL Giants' late-season success silences critics of GM Jerry Reese.
• Lou Lamoriello on his relationship with late Devils Owner John McMullen.
• How do college athletes use their cost-of-attendance stipends?

I've said it before, I'll said it again: NFL Media is by far the worst offender when it comes to not giving credit to others' reporting.

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) January 5, 2017

What a game! Congrats to @usahockey on winning #WJC2017 That was some of the most exciting hockey I have ever watched. #TeamUSA

— Kyle Palmieri (@kylepalmieri) January 6, 2017

I would do anything for a 2nd leg of a gold medal series instead of a shootout. I want 8 more games of this. #WJC2017 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

— Justin Karp (@jskarp) January 6, 2017

Divided $1000 among the top 4 storytellers on the @Suns sales team today. Great stories

— Bill Sutton (@Sutton_ImpactU) January 6, 2017

Ahead of the Alabama-Clemson CFP title game in Tampa, the Fan Central area opens at the Tampa Convention Center from 3:00-8:00pm ET. The Playoff Playlist free concert series starts up at Curtis Hixon Park from 5:00-11:00pm.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Men of Science.”

“Him vs. him: ‘The Life-Long Feud that Electrified the World’ is a book about these two men.”

“Who were Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison?”