It took only a brief moment for Tyler Steenbergen's name to become etched in Canadian hockey history.

The Swift Current Broncos sniper scored the gold medal winning goal for Canada late in the tournament final against Sweden and has been on a wild ride ever since.

“It's been pretty crazy,” Steenbergen said. “It's been a bit of a whirlwind. Getting home, getting back and relaxing a bit. Coming back (to Swift Current) seeing everyone it's pretty exciting times for us. With all those trades happening we're going to be a pretty good team and going to make a push in the playoffs.”

Steenbergen had played the 13th forward role or Canada and saw limited ice time throughout the event. He caught the attention of the coaches in the gold medal game and got a shift in the final two minutes of a tied game.

“Getting my name called obviously at that point in the game you kind of want to be a hero,” Steenbergen said. “I was thinking about it a little bit but I wasn't expecting too much. To see the puck pass the goal line it was pretty exciting. Lots of people ask me how I was feeling, but I just keep saying I blacked out on the play.”

Most hockey fans could give you a list of memorable goals from previous World Junior tournaments that earn a place in Canadian hockey history. That's a place Steenbergen could now find himself with what could become an iconic goal.

“Getting put in the lines with names like Eberle and Toews and all the guys who have made Canada so proud,” Steenbergen said. “It's pretty crazy to be a part of those names and hopefully it stays that way. At the end of the day it didn't matter who scored that goal we just wanted to win.”

The 20-year-old Arizona Coyotes draft pick had been the leading goal scorer in the Canadian Hockey League before making the World Juniors roster and was used to playing significant minutes in all situations. Suddenly with Canada he found himself just getting spot shifts and never playing more than ten minutes a game.

“It was a lot different than playing here,” Steenbergen noted. “I knew I was going to be a role player. That's what they told me. I had to accept my role and deal with it. Coming here my first couple years I didn't get a lot of ice time so I adjusted pretty well. You've just got to stay positive the whole time. We were winning and that's all we cared about.”

The victory was Canada's first gold medal since 2015 and came from a team that relied on depth.

“I think everyone just bought in,” Steenbergen said. “Everyone gelled together right from the start. We did a lot of team building stuff and were with each other 24 hours a day. I think just getting to know each other pretty quickly and being a part of a group like that is a pretty special feeling.”

Steenbergen had a chance to play and go to battle along side the likes of Sam Steel, Brett Howden and Kale Clague who play for East Division rivals in Moose Jaw and Regina.

“We'll have those memories to last a lifetime and now it's down to business,” Steenbergen noted. “We've got to play tough against Moose Jaw and Regina down the stretch here.”
Steenbergen did feel the love during and after the tournament from fans in his two homes.

“Swift Current they've been an unbelievable city in supporting me throughout the tournament,” Steenbergen said. “Even my home town of Silvan Lake they've done an unbelievable job of supporting me as well. It's pretty sweet seeing those small, tight knit communities come together and support me like that.”

While the star scorer was enjoying some time off after World Juniors the Broncos made a few significant deals before the WHL trade deadline. He is excited about what those additions mean for a team that was already among the WHL's elite.

“Everyone knows we are a team to reckon with,” Steenbergen said. “Every time someone comes to play us they're going to be gunning for us. Going down the stretch we're going to be a great team. We want to make a big push in the playoffs. It's going to be tough but I think we have the team to do it.”

The Broncos start their five game US division road swing against Tri-Cities tonight.

Listen live to Robertson Family Group Broncos Hockey on The Eagle 94.1 FM at 8:30pm.