A former member of the Green and Gold has completed a golden trifecta with Canada.
Okotoks Oilers alumnus Jacob Bernard-Docker helped Team Canada to its gold medal victory over Finland at the 2021 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship in Latvia on June 6 to add to his growing collection of silverware while wearing the Maple Leaf.
The championships caps off a season to remember for Bernard-Docker, who starred on the Oilers blueline from 2016-18 before advancing to three strong seasons at the University of North Dakota.
The 20-year-old blueliner, a gold medallist with Canada at the 2020 World Junior Hockey Championships and World Junior A Challenge in 2017, is just a couple months removed from his breakthrough into professional hockey.
Bernard-Docker made his NHL debut with the Ottawa Senators, the team that drafted him in the first round of the 2018 Entry Draft, on April 14 against the Winnipeg Jets and skated in five games down the stretch for the prospect-laden squad.
Though Canada is often a heavy favourite in international competition, the 2021 iteration of the team largely featuring pro players from NHL teams not competing in the playoffs and young prospects eager to make the jump to the next level had a meandering run through the event.
Canada got off to a winless start in its first three games and looked poised to be ending its trip to the picturesque capital city of Latvia empty handed.
Strong goaltending from the likes of Arizona Coyotes netminder Darcy Kuemper and a penchant for the dramatic in the playoff round paved the way for Canada’s turnaround in the Baltics.
Team Canada edged Russia in overtime in the quarterfinal by a 2-1 count, doubled up on the United States 4-2 in the semifinal and knocked off Finland 3-2 in overtime in the gold medal game.
Ottawa Senators centre Nick Paul notched the game-winner on a set-up from teammate Connor Brown at the 6:26 mark of the extra session.
Calgary Flames forward Andrew ‘the Bread Man’ Mangiapane, who joined the team after its 0-3 start to the competition, took home the Most Valuable Player award after posting 7 goals and 11 points in seven games.
The gold medal was Canada’s 21st at the IIHF World Championship and its third in the past six years.
For more information go to hockeycanada.ca.
