The World Junior A Challenge (WJAC) came to a close Saturday evening in front of a packed RJ Lalonde arena.
Team USA dominated Canada East from the opening puck drop.
The United States recorded 15 shots in the first period and were able to find the back of the net with one of them. Nick Swaney scored with less than a minute left in the period. They led 1-0 after 20 minutes.
In the second period, team USA ran away with the game. They scored three goals in the first 10 minutes. Alex Limoges, Collin Adams and Ethen Frank all helped the United States further the scoring gap.
Canada East didn't come close to mounting a comeback, only recording 14 shots through 60 minutes compared to the 44 that team USA took. With a final score of 4-0, the United States took home the WJAC gold medal.
“I thought we played really well. We got pucks in deep and pressured their defence all night. We didn't give them an inch and stayed on them all night,” said USA captain Matt Helickson. “I am just happy for the guys. We had a plan and that was to come here and win gold and there is no better feeling.”
Swaney added, “It's crazy, this is something special. We won gold here and there is not many words to describe it, it's pretty special.”
As the gold medal game came to an end, so did the week-long celebration in the Town of Bonnyville. The town had invited the world, and the world left impressed.
“The tournament was great; the facility is really nice, this is a great rink. I want to thank the Bonnyville Pontiacs for letting us use their rink. It's been great. The people are awesome and have been so nice to us,” said Hellickson.
For some players, this tournament was a great opportunity to spend time with family. Kyle Johnson, who was a member of Canada West was here with his father, Jay.
“It's incredible. My mother was here earlier in the week too. It was incredible to have this experience on it's own and then to be able to have my family see the games. There isn't much I can say about how cool this experience was. It's hard to put into words.”
The tournament showcased some of the great young talent who are playing in the Canadian Junior Hockey League including Cale Makar who tied a WJAC record in for points by a defenceman.
“I am fortunate to play here in the Alberta Junior Hockey League a couple times a year. The town has been unbelievable. The fans come out to every game and it's been great. I can't say enough about everything. All the food, the way everything was organized was just exceptional and I can't say enough,” said Makar.
For locals who witnessed the preparation, the reaction from visitors was no surprise.
“From a hype standpoint and excitement standpoint I hope people realize just how special of an event this was. The time it took to create such an enormous undertaking is phenomenal. You have to be so proud of the people and the volunteers that are involved,” said Canada West assistant coach and Bonnyville Pontiacs head coach and general manager Rick Swan. “Living in Bonnyville I recognize it, but the people who came here to see a world event and to see players who are going to eventually play in the National Hockey League is phenomenal. For me to be a part of that and to share that with the good people in our community, I feel pretty privileged.”
The gold medal game was broadcast across the country on Saturday night. The TSN crew and play-by-play, who have both been here before had nothing but nice things to say about the people of Bonnyville.
“Bonnyville is great, it is one of those awesome Alberta towns. It's just everything that Alberta is about,” said Ryan Rishaug, who was in town doing the TSN gold medal broadcast. “It's a hockey community.”
TSN director of scouting Craig Button added, “In these communities, it's the people that make up the community. The people that are so welcoming and so open and their hospitality is incredible. It's not anything that surprises me because it just speaks to Canadian values and it speaks to the Canadian warmth. Despite the cold weather there is always going to be Canadian warmth.”
