Newfoundland's newest hockey hero has come home. Michael Ryder was a member of Canada's national junior team that captured a bronze medal at the world championships.

It was back to the mundane for Michael Ryder on Thursday - waiting with his Mom and girlfriend for late arriving luggage at the airport in St. John's.

But, he had lots of good things to look back on from the world junior hockey championship in Sweden: "I scored my first goal, that was a big thrill for me, and a few body checks I threw were pretty good. There's a few highlights, but I think those stand out more."

Ryder's Bronze

Ryder wore #27 for Canada. And even if he didn't always score, his playing was noticed by the people calling the games: "And the Russian defenceman wasn't able to control Ryder. Ryder has been very strong on the puck and in going to the net in this tournament."

His mom knew as much. She could tell us that no team scored on Canada while her son was on the ice. But, what was her biggest thrill? "Just the thought that he was there on Team Canada representing the country," says Debbie Ryder, "and we never really imagined that would happen, but you know just looking out and seeing him there being one of those players that was pretty exciting."

But, for Michael Ryder, the championship wasn't without disappointment and it came in the game against the Russians: "It was quite disappointing not getting a shot at the gold medal and losing to Russia again, cause they lost last year and losing again this year is a big disappointment and not making the gold medal game, but we had to refocus the next day and go out and try to win the bronze."

And of course, refocus they did, with their dramatic shoot-out victory over the United States.

Back in St. John's, the luggage finally gets here, and with it Michael Ryder's medal. Asked if that's what it was all about, Ryder replies, "It was all about the gold, but fortunately we got a bronze medal and that's good enough."

Ryder will be going home to Bonavista for a week before heading back to junior hockey in Quebec. And the medal - his mom might keep that!