The Prince George Citizen - COUGARS’ DEN - Thursday, January 13,2000 - 11 GET HI FOR UK NORTHERN BC'S LARGEST FITNESS STORE Feature TteadroiNs FITNESS QUALITY OF LIFE... $3/200 reg. OF LIFE... reg. $2,999 with ■ Tyler Bouck Prince George Citizen: Do you feel like you played well enough to win gold both years, but something conspired to keep the gold medal away from you? Tyler Bouck: After a devastating loss against the Russians (3-2 in the semifinal), it was nice to be able to come out and win a game like that (a shootout victory against the U.S.). Sure, there are mixed emotions about winning the bronze. When you come over here for a gold and get the bronze, it’s kinda hard to be totally happy about it but I think we all battled hard. The game against the Russians, a lot of people in Sweden were calling that the true final game. It was tough to play such a tough game in the semis when it should’ve been in the final. PGC: Can you compare the feeling last year when the overtime goal went past Roberto Luongo to this year’s loss to Russia? TB: That one was in overtime so it was a litde different, but comparing the two games I thought we outplayed the Russians really bad (this year) and we just didn’t seem to get the bounces. They blocked a lot of shots and clogged up the middle and made it hard for us to score goals. We got stronger every period and I thought we should’ve won the game because we outplayed them. They just had the breaks and capitalized on them, and compare that to last year when they outshot us something like 40-12. We adjusted to their system really well. * PGC: After the loss to Russia, you were quoted in wire stories as saying “Their system beat Canada’s system.” Did you mean their hockey program in general, or the way they played in that game? TB: It was the way they played, their transition game, in that particular game. Their transition game beat us two times and they ended up with breakaways on it. I’m not saying their system is better than ours because it definitely is not. It just happened to beat us those two times. PGC: Players always talk about the emotion of hearing the national anthem. What was it like for you? TB: It was nice, and I don’t think we would’ve been so excited if the game wasn’t a shootout and we hadn’t won like that. The way the game went we were very proud and it was neat to hear the national anthem, the guys with their arms locked around each other and singing. It was a special moment, one I’ll never forget. PGC: Are you going to have nightmares and bad thoughts about that referee (Christer Larkins of Sweden) for the rest of your life? TB: I thought that ref did everything he could to make us lose (to the U.S.), but fortunately we battled through it and won the game. He was awful. PGC: Were you surprised when Brian Finley got the start in goal for the last game, considering he didn’t play at all in the rest of the tournament? TB: I wasn’t. Brian battled hard all week — he didn’t get to play, but he battled in practice — and he was really good, and positive on the bench. We came here for the gold medal, and I thought Brian deserved his shot at winning the bronze, and he played great. PGC: Your coach, Claude Julien, was criticized after the Russia game with not shortening his bench, and he did that against the U.S. What were your thoughts? TB: I don’t think he had any reason to shorten the bench against the Russians because everyone was really working and banging. If he was going to shorten the bench, who was he going to sit? No one has that answer because everyone was playing so well. (Against the U.S.) the coaches went with their hunches, and some guys didn’t feel like playing after the gold medal was out of our grasp. They had to do what they thought was best, but we win and lose as a team even if guys aren’t playing. PGC: Is it hard for you to realize you won’t pull that Canada jersey on again for the national junior team? TB: Before the game started I was looking at the jersey, and I toid Barret Jackman this would be my last time ever putting on a Canadian jersey. It was emotional for me because it’s the best experience I’ve ever had playing hockey. It’s something I’ll always treasure. PGC: You certainly can’t complain about a lack of icetime. TB: That was nice. I was lucky to play on a line with Manny and Chris and we worked well together. We were happy with all the ice we got, and it’s something I’ll always remember. PGC: Is there one memory, good or bad, that will stick with you? TB: Both losses to the Russians are a big disappointment I’ll always think about. All that aside, it’s all the friendships with the guys from last year to this year that I’ve made. TYLER BOUCK, 1996 X6100 Elliptical 2200 HRC 3000 Upright *1,495 $ 1,495 *800 “iR.&c6xf, 100% Locally Owned & Operated FITNESS STORES * FITNESS EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS • HOME • OFFICE • CORPORATE Phone: 562-6082 • 1237-4th Avenue Toll Free: 1 -877-450-6000 “Specialty Avenue”