Team Canada lost just one game at the Women's World U-18 Hockey Championship in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Problem was it was the one game they didn't want to lose.

The Canadians dropped the gold medal game on Jan. 3 to the U.S. by a score of 2-1 in sudden-death overtime, giving them the silver medal. For Annie King, it was a tough pill to swallow but she's proud of what the team did.

The Yellowknife-born King watched the winning goal from the bench and said it was the result of a plethora of things.

SA国际影视传媒淭he Americans put two skaters up on our player and forced the turnover,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚t was tough watching it from the bench and so many things led up to that. It was no one's fault.SA国际影视传媒�

The Canadians had a perfect run leading up to the final, winning all three of their round-robin games, which included a 2-1 win over the Americans on Dec. 29. They defeated Russia in their opening contest on Dec. 26, 3-2 in overtime, and followed that up with a 4-1 win over Finland. After dispatching Finland on the semifinals on New Year's Day by the same 4-1 scoreline, it was back to face the Americans for the big prize.

Even in defeat, King said it was an experience she won't soon forget.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was amazing to be there,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淵ou're surrounded by a group of players with the same goals and dreams as you do and it was awesome to be a part of it all.SA国际影视传媒�

Making the team was a two-year process which began with what's known as a long list. That list, compiled by Hockey Canada, contained 60 names which was eventually whittled down to the 23 that represented Canada in Slovakia.

King got a regular shift all tournament long and was even named the player of the game by her teammates against Russia, albeit a dressing room honour.

She even had a chance to be on the power-play during the overtime session against the Americans.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat was cool to be able to hop on during that,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淕etting a regular shift was great because going in, the idea was just being happy to be a part of it all but you always want to play and help the team win and I'm so happy I got that chance to do it.SA国际影视传媒�

Being such a short tournament can prove tough for a team to come together, especially in such a short amount of time, but King said there were no problems with cohesion whatsoever.

SA国际影视传媒淲e all came together quickly,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e were doing activities together and I definitely walked away with 22 new and close friends. We all played for each other and I think we all got along so well together because we all had the goal of playing for Canada and wanting to win for Canada.SA国际影视传媒�

The style of hockey was a big step up from what she's seen previously, she added.

SA国际影视传媒淓ven from playing at the national level, the worlds was so much different,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淵ou're playing against the best in the world every shift and the speed of the game was so much different.SA国际影视传媒�

It was a family affair as both of her parents and two of her brothers made the trip to watch and King said it was probably more nerve-wracking for them than it was for her.

SA国际影视传媒淚 could tell they were nervous,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淢om was probably hoping I would get off the ice and not make any mistakes.SA国际影视传媒�

Her mother, Lori-Ann King, said she wasn't really nervous until sudden-death in the gold medal game itself.

SA国际影视传媒淚 just knew how much pressure she would put on herself if she was on the ice when the other team scored and for the first time in the tournament, I was nervous for her,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 shouldn't have been though (because) she played great.SA国际影视传媒�

She also said watching her daughter wear the maple leaf was simply amazing.

SA国际影视传媒淭his has been a goal of Annie's for so long and she accomplished it through hard work and determination,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淪he told me when she was eight years old that her long-term goal was Team Canada. Who was I to tell her that was a lofty goal?SA国际影视传媒�

And there was the support from the North, which Lori-Ann said was something that amazed her.

SA国际影视传媒淭he texts, phone calls and e-mails have been amazing,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淓veryone who watched the games livestreamed to a former teacher who ordered a Team Canada jersey with the no. 3 on it (King wore no. 3 in the tournament) SA国际影视传媒� the love and support has been amazing.SA国际影视传媒�