WJC: QA with Dion Phaneuf, Part One

G'O CANADA

McKeen's: Congrats on the gold medal. Anytime Canada is involved in a hockey tournament, gold is the only option. How were you feeling about Canada's chances going into this tournament?

Dion Phaneuf: Thanks. It was goal since day one of camp, to win a gold medal. We stuck to that mindset the whole way through the tournament and we were successful.

McKeen's: How about now, a couple of weeks later. Do you still smile when you think about it?

Phaneuf: Definitely. It was an experience of a lifetime that I'll never forget and it's something that just keeps getting better every day.

McKeen's: What was the number one message that Brent Sutter wanted to convey to his troops for this tournament?

Phaneuf: He wanted a very competitive training camp in December and for us to become a team as quickly as possible. We did that and we were a very tight-knit group of guys.

McKeen's: After you went undefeated in the round robin part of the tournament, the team obviously had to be pleased – but not satisfied. How much did Team Canada's letdowns from previous years weigh on each guy heading into the semi-finals and finals?

Phaneuf: We knew that after the round robin the games kept getting bigger and bigger and to keep going you had to win and to be successful you had to win, so that was our mindset.

McKeen's: Team Canada outscored the opposition 41-7. That's only seven goals against in six games, which is just amazing. You guys never trailed once. That is the definition of domination. How did your team keep the pressure on the other side all the time and away from your own net?

Phaneuf: Well, we didn't want to stop. We wanted to be a team that was always on our toes, no matter if the score was 1-0 or 5-0 or 6-1. It didn't matter. We wanted to keep going until the final 60 minutes was up.

McKeen's: The WJC is the final piece of the Canadian puzzle. Canada is coming off Olympic gold for both the men and women; the World Cup of Hockey; World Championships and now World Juniors. How does it feel to be part of this proud Canadian moment?

Phaneuf: It was very special. The experience of a lifetime.

HOW DOES THAT TASTE?

McKeen's: What was your reaction to the Russian/ American taunting incident?

Phaneuf: We were watching it. It's the way they wanted to be and we didn't want to pay much attention to it, but we knew that they were a very highly skilled team and that going into the final they were the second best team in the tournament. We knew that they were going to be a very tough opponent, so we had to go in there and we knew it was going to be a very tough game.

McKeen's: Colin Fraser played a key role on the 4th line. What did he bring to the team, in your eyes?

Phaneuf: He did his job. He played his role very well. He played on the 4th line, but he did a very good job at what he had to do.

McKeen's: Sidney Crosby. Lots of hype around the guy and he always gets great reviews from his peers, both on and off the ice. Talk about his game and also what he's like in the locker room.

Phaneuf: He's a very good player, that's no secret, but he's a great guy to be around and you can't say enough good things about him. He's a very skilled hockey player and he does all of the little things right and that's what makes him successful.

McKeen's: Patrice Bergeron was the MVP of the tournament and he had 13 points total. He's been a real surprise to a lot of people since last year's impressive NHL debut. What is it that makes this guy tick on the ice?

Phaneuf: He's a very hard working player and if you watch him practice, he practices the way he plays and he doesn't take a night off, that's for sure. He's a very skilled forward and a tough guy to play against.

McKeen's: You also took part in the CHL/ Russia series in December. How different is it playing in a set of games like that, where you really have no prep time, to the WJC, where you have at least a little time to prepare?

Phaneuf: It's a lot different. Those two are basically All Star games, but the World Juniors are a lot different. You have a little bit more time to come together as a team and it's a totally different experience.

McKeen's: How important is it for you to continue playing for Team Canada when asked and will you do so throughout your NHL career?

Phaneuf: It's a great honor. It's been a dream since I was a kid and to not only be able to play on Team Canada, but to also win a gold medal for Canada is an experience I'll never forget and it's something I was very honored to do.

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Check back tomorrow, when Dion tells us what kind of impact Brent Sutter has had on his development. DP also explains how he is able to keep his focus on the ice and why he felt it was important to help Tsunami relief victims in any way he could.