With the IIHF World Junior Championship back in British Columbia for the first time in 13 years and B.C. Hockey celebrating its 100th anniversary, we asked the question … what are the best performances by B.C. natives in World Juniors history?

NO. 1 – CAREY PRICE
Hometown: Anahim Lake, B.C.
Minor Hockey Association: Williams Lake MHA

2007 IIHF World Junior Championship
Statistics: 6GP 1.14GAA .961SV% 2SO 6-0-0
Result: gold medal

After golden performances in Grand Forks and Vancouver, Canada headed across the Atlantic to Sweden for the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship in search of its first gold medal on European ice since finishing its run of five consecutive world titles in Switzerland in 1997.

Price brought an already-decorated résumé to Leksand and Mora – the fifth-overall pick by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2005 NHL draft, the Anahim Lake product won gold at the 2005 Junior World Cup to go along with silver medals from the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and IIHF World U18 Championship.

He was lights out at the World Juniors, bookending the preliminary round with shutouts of Sweden and Slovakia before turning away 34 of 35 shots – 12 of them in overtime – in the memorable semifinal shootout win over the U.S. en route to a gold medal, MVP and Top Goaltenders honours and a spot on the all-star team.

What are your memories of the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship?
“I got to meet a lot of great guys; it’s a pretty special tournament because you bring together guys from all over Canada and you have to bond, so you make some pretty good friendships. You have to bond quickly in that tournament; that’s the whole name of the game, to be able to have good chemistry out there.”

After surviving the shootout, what were your nerves like heading into the gold medal game?
“I actually didn’t feel as bad as the shootout, believe it or not. When we got off to that quick start [Canada led 3-0 after one period] it was a lot easier for me to play. When I’m playing behind a [defensive] group like that … they just let me play my game.”

As a player, what makes the World Juniors special?
“It’s your first real exposure to the hockey world; it’s where you make your mark, whether it’s to impress the team you were drafted by, or even to impress the teams you wish to be drafted by. Obviously it’s a little bit bigger of a deal in Canada than it is in other countries, there is a lot more coverage, and it’s a cool experience to be able to play for your hometown and have everyone see you on TV for the first time.”