When Canada West took to the ice at the 2014 World Junior A Challenge in Kindersley, Sask., a pair of local standouts got their fair share of the attention.

Cody Young and Evan Weninger, both members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Kindersley Klippers, made their international debuts on home ice, playing in front of their home fans.

From promotional materials that have spread across the community for months, to the massive banner that covers the northeast wall of the West Central Events Centre, Sean Flanagan has been the poster boy for the event since shortly after it was awarded to Kindersley in April 2014.

Not only is Flanagan a Kindersley native, he starred on the Klippers’ blue-line for two seasons and was – until Young and Weninger cracked the Canada West line-up this year – the lone Klipper to play in the World Junior A Challenge.

Flanagan, now a sophomore at Minnesota State University, Mankato, wore the red and white in 2010, part of the Canada West contingent that finished fourth in Penticton, B.C.

Thomas Novak was the hero, scoring 4:56 into overtime to give the United States a 3-2 win over Denmark in the gold medal game at the 2014 World Junior A Challenge.

The Americans won their third consecutive gold medal, and sixth in the last seven years. They also ran their winning streak at the tournament to a record 13 games, dating back to the bronze medal game in 2011. Novak’s goal spoiled the performance of Danish goaltender George Sorensen, who set a World Junior A Challenge record for saves in a game with 60.

Novak added two assists to his game-winner for a three-point outing, while Boeser had a goal and a helper. Nikolaj Ehlers and Oliver Bjorkstrand had a goal and an assist each for the Danes. Ehlers finished with a tournament-leading nine points (six goals, three assists), taking home the World Junior A Challenge MVP award and earning a spot on the tournament all-star team, alongside Novak.

Ehlers finished with a tournament-leading nine points (six goals, three assists), taking home the World Junior A Challenge MVP award and earning a spot on the tournament all-star team, alongside Novak.