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For sure there will be regret about what happened against Germany, a team that outworked them more than outclassed them. But determined not to fall into the trap of dismissing the bronze contest as meaningless, Canada built a 3-1 lead after the opening period and never allowed the Czechs to get closer than two goals.

“We’re a proud group. (The loss to Germany) wasn’t our best effort. Everyone knows that,” Kelly said. “Canadians are proud people and there are 25 proud guys in there that want to represent their country the right way.”

Though they were unable to defend the gold medals won in Sochi in 2014 and in Vancouver in 2010, the Canadians were able to add to the country’s record haul with the 29th medal of these Games. They also avoided missing the podium for the first time since the 2006 Torino Olympics.

Photo by Maddie Meyer / Getty Images

It wasn’t an easy process, however. Physically and emotionally drained, they didn’t leave the arena until after midnight following the semifinal loss and they woke quiet and subdued and likely a little embarrassed.

A noon-hour meeting at the rink started to change the tone, however, and by puck drop they knew what opportunity awaited.

“There was a lot of regret after last night and we woke up feeling pretty crappy,” Canadian forward Rob Klinkhammer said. “We did not want to feel like that again.

“It was a big response by the guys and I am proud of everyone stepping up.”

For a group of players that had barely dreamed of being Olympians, they had a medal to go with the memories, neither of which can be taken away.

• Email: rlongley@postmedia.com | Twitter: @longleysunsport

Photo by Nathan Denette / The Canadian Press

Canadians refused to neglect shot at bronze

There were several points made to Team Canada in the hours leading up to Saturday’s bronze-medal game, many of them punctuated with expletives.

One of the most important, however, was an emphasis on not falling into the trap of dismissing the lesser-coloured prize as meaningless.

“We’re not used to fighting for third place,” Canadian forward Wojtek Wolski said after his team’s 6-4 win over the Czech Republic. “You either win a Stanley Cup or you lose one. It’s a total different situation. Hearing the Germans celebrating next to us (on Friday), just knowing they made the final and guaranteed a medal, we wanted to have that feeling after the game.”

Defenceman Chris Lee said the management group talked about past Canadian teams that had packed it in when the gold was out of reach.

“A lot of what we talked about was past performances of Canadian teams and the history we have of maybe not showing up for bronze, because it’s such a win gold or nothing (feeling),” Lee said. “It’s unfortunate that we looked at that as motivation, but you’ve got to find things sometimes to pump you up.”