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PARDUBICE, CZECH REPUBLIC — The 20 members of the triumphant Canadian junior hockey team arrived home Sunday relieved, proud and in dire need of a breather.
But there will be little time for rest as they return to their respective junior teams, and Kyle Turris, the lone U.S. college player on the Canadian team, goes back to the University of Wisconsin.
For most of these teenagers, life has changed because of the piece of gold around their necks. There will be ceremonies to honour some of them in the NHL cities of Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto, as well as in the places they now hang their hats.
For goaltender Steve Mason, the latest in a long line of Canadian netminding heroes to be spawned at the world under-20 tournament, the immense pressure he endured over the past week will subside, but will soon pick up again because of the trade that sent him from the London Knights to the Kitchener Rangers on Friday.
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The Rangers will play host to the Memorial Cup in May, and, as a result, both Mason and Canadian junior teammate Matt Halischuk, who scored the overtime winner in Canada's 3-2 gold-medal victory over Sweden on Saturday, will be in the spotlight, trying to win Canadian junior hockey's top prize.
“I will have a couple days off, go back to London and get my things and hopefully spend some time with my family and share this with them,” said Mason, who will face the Knights in London in his first game for the Rangers on Thursday.
“I'm on a new team and a new focus will begin. It's just part of being a hockey player. Obviously, winning a Memorial Cup is something I want to add to my résumé.”
The 19-year-old won each of his five starts at the world junior tournament, gave up only six goals and stopped 117 of 123 shots, for a .951 save percentage. He also was chosen as the tournament's most valuable player and top goaltender, but the humble teenager from Oakville, Ont., said the success won't change his down-to-earth approach.
“I enjoy the life that I have,” said Mason, a Columbus Blue Jackets prospect. “If somebody recognizes me, maybe that's a nice thing. But I like what I had. Nobody treated me any differently just because I'm a hockey player.”
The Canadian juniors assembled in Calgary for the selection camp on Dec. 10, and over the past 26 days, Halischuk and Mason got to know each other and are now looking forward to continuing as teammates with the Rangers.
Halischuk, of Mississauga, who jammed in a rebound after a strong move to the net from Shawn Matthias, returned home brimming with confidence.
“It was No. 1 for sure, it was pretty special,” Halischuk said of scoring his memorable goal.
“We're all looking forward to getting home. It's been a long trip and we ended it off on the right note.
“This was a great experience. We'll be able to take a lot from it because it was the highest pressure situation we've ever been in. Hopefully, what we learned here we'll be able to apply back home.”
Canadian coach Craig Hartsburg absorbed plenty of criticism for choosing Mason over Jonathan Bernier as his No. 1 goalie in the medal round. Now, Hartsburg will devise a plan for his Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds to beat Mason and the Rangers in the OHL Western Conference playoffs in the hopes of gaining a spot in the Memorial Cup.
“I have been thinking about that, but that will take care of itself,” said the two-time gold medalist coach, who was drained from the emotion and a flu bug. “He's a great kid and obviously Kitchener made the trade for a reason. We'll worry about that tomorrow.”
Hartsburg said his experience as the junior team coach was his greatest one in hockey, but wouldn't commit whether he will endure the pressure-packed job again.
He credited his players for coming through in the end and winning Canada's fourth championship in a row and 14th since the Hockey Canada program was established in 1982.
“It's the kids,” Hartsburg said. “These kids have grown up watching this on TV. They take pride in this and they have a passion for it. Besides the Stanley Cup, this is probably the biggest dream of a Canadian kid.”
