By Andrea Lee

Here at the 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship, hockey is on everyone’s mind. And now that 2005 has drawn to a close, people are making promises to have a leaner, meaner New Year. HockeyCanada.ca’s Andrea Lee asked some Canadian players to take a time-out from thinking hockey to reflect on the year they’ve had and talk about what’s ahead for them in 2006. The responses were predictably varied as everyone had a fun time with the questions, and some revealed that their focus truly is strictly on hockey.

HockeyCanada.ca: What’s the best thing that happened to you in 2005?

Luc Bourdon: Going back for summer at the end of the season. Just going back home and having some time with my friends and my family.

Sasha Pokulok: This [tournament]. Oh, un-hockey related. Sorry, I don’t know. That’s a tough question.

Blake Comeau: I would say going to the Memorial Cup in May for the third straight time that was pretty cool. Oh, that’s hockey-related. Ummm…I’m trying to think. Everything is based on hockey in my life. Well, I went to the Merritt Mountain Music Festival [in BC], which is a big country music festival which was pretty fun.

Devan Dubnyk: Probably this. Oh, not hockey-related. I’m going to have to get back to you on that one. I don’t really do anything other than hockey. That is pretty sad.

Andrew Cogliano: Probably being drafted by the Edmonton Oilers. Un-hockey related. I don’t know, I couldn’t tell you.

HockeyCanada.ca: Do you have any New Year’s resolutions?

Bourdon: No, not really. I think I just want to keep everything the same way as they always are.

Pokulok: No. I’m not really big on that. I’m not into that kind of stuff. I just roll with it. I’ve never really been a fan of New Year’s resolutions because you never keep them anyway.

Comeau: No, I don’t really have any.

Dubnyk: Just to continue to work hard. It’s kind of the same thing as every year. I just make sure I’m enjoying everything I do, not just hockey. But I make sure everything I do, I do 100% and don’t go half on something because it won’t be worth it in the end.

Cogliano: Stop eating junk food. Stop eating McDonald’s.

HockeyCanada.ca: What do you look forward to in 2006? What are your hopes and dreams for the New Year?

Bourdon: I hope everyone around me, including my family and my friends, stays healthy and stays in good shape.

Pokulok: Health and happiness for my family.

Comeau: Being able to see my family this summer. I don’t see them a whole lot during the year. And the one break that we do get, we’re here [at the World Junior Championships]. So, just seeing my family in the summer time would be great.

Dubnyk: I want to get stronger off the ice. I want to work hard in the gym and put on some more muscle.

Cogliano: Going to Cancun during March and April for Spring break.