Ottawa 67’s captain Travis Barron sat on a couch Friday night, cheering on Canada in the gold-medal game of the world junior hockey championship.
He knew many players on the Canadian team, and he cheered along with the rest of the country when Canada captured gold with a 3-1 win against Sweden.
67’s captain Travis Barron said he texted congratulations to long-time friend Taylor Raddysh (16), who won a gold medal with Canada’s juniors on Friday night in Buffalo.
“It’s the world juniors,” Barron said after the 67’s defeated the Peterborough Petes 3-2 in an Ontario Hockey League regular-season game on Saturday afternoon. “I was wishing I was playing, but, at the same time, I’m a Team Canada fan. I know a lot of guys on the team. I was sitting there watching and talking to myself out loud.”
He especially felt good for Canadian team forward Taylor Raddysh, a long-time friend. Barron tweeted out congratulations to his buddy following the win.
“To see (Raddysh) lose last year, then come out on top this year makes me really happy,” Barron said. “We went to high school (Mayfield Secondary School in Caledon) together. We played hockey against each other. He was always my rival (on the ice) growing up. I’m really proud to see what he’s doing.”