By Chad Klassen

WORLD JUNIOR LOSS

Blazers’ Zary reflects on disappointing gold medal loss, special World Junior experience

Jan 6, 2021 | 5:48 PM

KAMLOOPS — Twenty-four hours after a stunning gold-medal loss to the Americans, the agony of defeat remained on the face of Connor Zary, the Blazers forward who came so close to capturing a world junior hockey championship.

“Pretty emotional,” said Zary from his hotel room in Calgary, where he’s preparing to join the Flames at training camp. “Obviously you go through two months with a team and grind through a lot of adversities to get to that moment in time in the gold-medal game. Obviously coming up short, it’s a bit disappointing.”

It was a disappointing ending to what was shaping up to be one of the great tournaments in Canadian junior history. In the conversation as the best team ever before Tuesday’s defeat, Team Canada, which rolled through most of the 2021 tournament with ease with only four goals in six games, ran into a U.S. squad that was more determined and shut the home team down, including Spencer Knight who had a 34-save shutout.

“I think they came out hard and they were willing to kind of do whatever it took and block our shots and make our night difficult,” said Zary. “I think we were ready, and I think we knew what to expect. I think we did almost everything right. Obviously the scoreboard was 2-0, but I think we played really well. You win some, you lose some I guess.”

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Often in the role as 13th forward, Zary didn’t earn a ton of ice time — just shy of seven minutes in the gold-medal game — but he felt like he took advantage of his opportunities. While the loss stings, he has earned lifelong hockey friends from this experience.

“I think just being able to represent your country and do it with pride and do everything you can to put yourself out there on centre stage,” he said. “I think [also] just meeting a lot of great new guys that are brothers now for life, friends forever. I think just taking those relationships forward. That’s probably one of the most special things for me.”

Zary has to quickly forget about loss. The 24th overall pick of the Calgary Flames in this year’s NHL Draft joins training camp in a couple days.

“Obviously when I get back on the ice, that’s where my focus is going to be and I’ll take my head away from a difficult ending to a good experience.”