Myers looks back on Team Canada's Gold Medal winning team at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship.
In 2009, Tyler Myers helped Team Canada capture Gold at the World Junior Championship in Ottawa. Playing for the Kelowna Rockets at the time, he played in all six games for Team Canada that year as they captured their fifth consecutive Gold at the tournament. 15 years later, it remains one of the top highlights in the Vancouver Canucks defender's career.
The 2009 tournament was memorable for a variety of reasons. Not only did it produce one of the most memorable goals in the tournament's history, but as mentioned, Canada was able to win Gold on home ice. As Myers explains, the event produced plenty of memories and is a good reminder of just how long ago 2009 was.
"Makes me feel old," joked Myers when asked about this year being the 15th anniversary of the 2009 tournament. "But honestly, it was such a fun tournament. And you know, it feels like it was yesterday. You watch it every year at Christmas, and it brings back memories of when I brought home the Gold."
Like many, one moment that sticks out in Myers's mind was Jordan Eberle's game-tying goal against the Russians. The goal sent Scotiabank Place into a frenzy and kept the "drive for five" alive. As he details, the atmosphere the fans created during that game and the entire tournament is something he won't ever forget.
"Winning it was probably my biggest memory. I think a lot of people would say the thing that stands out the most would probably be Jordan Eberle's tying goal in the semis with five seconds left. It was an atmosphere that I'll never forget. It was unbelievable that it happened in Canada, home in Ottawa. It was a special time, and it was an unbelievable feeling. Winning brings you together and the World Juniors was one of those times where you create a bond for life. It's a moment throughout my career that is pretty amazing."
Like many across the country, watching the World Juniors has become a tradition for Myers. It not only allows him to cheer on Canada but also gives him some insight into potential future opponents and teammates currently representing their countries. This includes the three Canucks prospects currently representing Sweden, which he watched dominate Latvia in their first game of this year's tournament.
"I watch it every year. It's almost like a Christmas tradition, as it is with a lot of families here in Canada. I know Vancouver has a lot of prospects playing in it, and I was able to catch some of the Sweden game. It's fun to watch and see what guys are coming up and to see what teams are pushing this year."
It is safe to say that Myers has had a remarkable international career so far. Not only has he won Gold at the U18s, U20s and World Championship, but he is also one of a select few to play for the United States and Canada. While he has been on some special teams in the past, few can compare to the squad he played for 15 years ago when he won Gold at the 2009 World Juniors.