For the second year in a row Clarke Breitkreuz was a member of Team Canada West at the World Junior 'A' Challenge, and for the second year in a row he returned from the international event minus the gold medal he had hoped for.
This year's team in fact finished out of the medal picture all together, losing to the team from Switzerland in the bronze medal game 8-3.
"Obviously we didn't do as well as we hoped from a team stand point," said Breitkreuz, who regularly plays with the Yorkton Terriers in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
Breitkreuz said the team had only one goal going into the event.
"Anytime there's a tournament like this, as Canadians it's gold, gold, gold, go for the gold," he said. "Everything we did, everything we practiced for was for a gold medal."
"Being a Canadian you're always going for the gold. There's really nothing else."
With the chance to play for gold gone in a 5-1 semi final loss to the eventual tournament winners from the United States, Team West were
relegated to the bronze medal match, which Breitkreuz said did leave the team with "mixed feelings."
Still, Breitkreuz said the team tried to put a positive spin on the situation.
"You don't win silver, but you win gold, or you can win bronze," he said.
However, in the bronze medal game Team West met a Swiss team fighting for a rare international medal for their country.
"The Swiss were a good team. They maybe got the short end of the stick in their semi final game against the East (Team Canada East)," said Breitkreuz, pointing to the 4-2 loss.
The Swiss were fired up against Team Canada West, although Breitkreuz said the game was closer than the score might indicate.
"Maybe if we had gotten a bounce or two," he said.
As for the Americans, who Team Canada lost to in the final in 2009, Breitkreuz tipped his hat.
"They're a great hockey team. Lots of team speed, skills and size," he said,
adding the United States Hockey League from which the team is selected is a good one.
"To beat them you have to play your top game and maybe get some bounces and breaks along the way," he said.
In spite of the disappointment of missing a medal, Breitkreuz said he will take positives from the tournament held in Penticton forward with him.
"The experience was still first class. There are still positives to take from a tournament like that," he said.
Asked what the positives were, Breitkreuz said the first one was simply having the experience of lifting his game to an international level.
"It's always good to step up a level," he said, adding the intensity of international hockey is something he wants to bring hold onto as a Terrier the rest of the season. " The international level of play we had to have there I want to bring back here."
Breitkreuz said there are off ice elements too.
"The people you meet, the friends you make, the chance to play for your country are all positive things," he said.
And, while the team faltered in achieving the success it had hoped for, on a personal level Breitkreuz had a great tournament, starting with 小蓝视频 handed the Captain's 'C' on an international stage.
"It was a great honour It was real emotional and an honour. At a venue like that 小蓝视频 a Captain means a lot," he said, adding he recognized the significance of having a 'C' on his chest representing his country.
"The coaches put a lot of trust in me Hopefully I did a good job of representing Canada as Captain."
Breitkreuz said he knew going in he wasone of only six returnees from the 2009 team, and had been an assistant captain last year, so he would be expected to take a lead role.
"I wasn't as surprised to be in a leadership role, but the 'C' was a bit of a shock," he said.
Breitkreuz also lead the team by example offensively leading Team West is scoring over the tournament, with five points in five games, including one goal and four assists.
"And I stayed on the plus side of things at the tournament," he said. "I did my job. I did what the coaches asked me, and put up some numbers in the process."
Breitkreuz would trade some of his personal success for a medal to go with the silver brought back in 2009. He said packing up after the bronze medal game was not easy.
"It was tough for most of us," he said. "It's probably the last time I'll ever don a Team Canada jersey."
But Breitkreuz said he also realizes he has accomplished something most never get the chance to do.
"One silver medal and two unforgettable experience, it's something most people can't say they've had," he said. "It's really the most unbelievable experiences of my life."
