When you’ve beaten the team that goes home with the gold, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth when you have to settle for less. But Tri-City Americans goalie Eric Comrie prefers to think of his trip to the U-17 World Hockey Championships in a positive manner.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Comrie, who backed Team Pacific to a fifth-place finish. “I met a lot of guys and it was fun wearing a Canadian jersey for the first time.”

Comrie helped Team Pacific to a 5-2 victory over Team West in the opening game. Next, Team Pacific, with Tristan Jarry in goal, beat the Czech Republic 4-0.

Comrie returned to the net the following game, and led Pacific to a 4-3 win over Russia, finishing with 27 saves.

“We were the only team there to beat them,” Comrie said of the Russians.

Comrie was in net in Team Pacific’s 4-2 loss to the United States. Comrie had 33 saves as the United States outshot Pacific 37-19.

Despite the one loss, Team Pacific was relegated to the fifth-place game.

“We beat Russia, who won it all, but we were in a three-way tie and we didn’t have the tie-breakers,” Comrie said. "In the Russia and U.S. games I played well. I have no regrets."

Comrie said playing against the competition in the WHL had its good and bad points going into the tournament.

“These were the best 16 year olds in the world,” Comrie said. “The guys in the WHL are older, bigger and faster. It was still an adjustment, going from faster shots to slower ones. We did have a couple of practices to get ready for that.”

Now, he’s back with the Americans. He celebrated his return to the WHL with a 7-3 victory over Seattle last Friday.