OSTRAVA, Czech Republic – Akil Thomas was a fan in Buffalo two years ago when lightly-used Tyler Steenbergen scored the world junior-winning goal for Canada.
“I was in the stands with friends joking around,” the 19-year-old Niagara IceDogs forward recalled, “that I’m going to score that goal one day. He didn’t play much and he ended up scoring the (deciding) goal. I was inspired by him.
“It’s funny how life works sometimes.”
On Sunday, he became the new Steenbergen, a fourth-line energy guy whose hustle earned him the gold-medal tally with 3:58 left to cap one of the greatest comebacks in tournament history, 4-3 over Russia before 8,693 at Ostravar Arena.
It was his first, and only goal, in seven contests.
“I usually throw up before games,” Thomas said. “Today, I didn’t. I wasn’t nervous. I felt like my time was coming. Time was ticking and I kind of had a feeling Dale (coach Dale Hunter) would call my name. Luckily, he did. Dale mentioned after the game he thought I was going to score. That’s why he put me out there.
“I think it was just destiny.”
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