Friesen golden in Turin

Former Swift Current Broncos captain Dustin Friesen captured a gold medal with Team Canada in Turin, Italy.

Friesen and a team of Atlantic University Sport All-Stars defeated Russia at the World University Games 3-1 on Jan. 27 to bring home Canada's third ever men's hockey gold medal at the 23rd Winter Universiade.

The 6' 195 lb defenseman is currently the captain of the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds hockey team. He was selected to represent Canada with the AUS All-Stars. Every two years the right to represent Canada in hockey at the Winter Universiade is rotated between the three Canadian Intruniversity Sport Conferences. 2007 marked the second time the AUS has represented Canada. In 2001 the AUS brought back a silver medal from Poland.

Friesen, who played in 258 regular season games with the Broncos from 2000-2004, was one of 1,906 athletes from 52 countries who competed in 11 different sports for 72 different gold medals.

Friesen wore #14 for Canada and was a +8 in five wins and one tie. Canada won games against the United States, Korea, Slovakia, and Finland, and tied Russia 2-2 before their 3-1 win over Russia in the gold medal final.

Friesen, who is studying Kiniesiology/Education, now returns to his 14-7-0-3 Varsity Reds who are ranked fifth in the country. Friesen has recorded three goals and 13 assists in 21 games and is a team leading +9 this season.