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There was a time Corbyn Smith thought he was done playing sledge hockey.

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The Paralympian from Monkton had already spent five years in the national program and won multiple medals while representing his country on the world stage. There was nothing left to prove when he was let go in 2021-22 amid concussion issues.

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“That was a tough year,” he said. “That was a big part of my life taken away for a while, and it was weird to adjust to. It makes moments like these that much more special.”

Smith, 25, is referring to the gold medal he won at the world para hockey championships last weekend in Calgary. It was Canada’s first world title since 2017 — Smith’s first year with the team — but this one was even better.

“It was incredible,” he said. “I don’t have the words for it.”

Unlike seven years ago in South Korea, Smith’s family was able to watch him win a world championship in person. Nineteen family and friends made the trip to out west, which made the tournament memorable on and off the ice.

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“Being able to get dinner with them on off days was huge, just mentally,” he said. “Being away from home, you start to miss your family and home, but I didn’t really have that (this time).”

Canada went 5-0 at the tournament, beating the United States 2-1 in the final. The sport’s biggest rivalry had grown somewhat stale in recent years, with the Americans winning the last three world titles and going 6-0 against Canada in 2023-24 prior to Sunday’s clash.

“We’ve always played them close but never got over the hurdle of being able to hold a lead for three periods,” Smith said.

That changed at worlds, as Canada’s Dominic Cozzolino — another player let go two seasons ago — scored 35 seconds into the game. The host country never trailed, and goalie Adam Kingsmill kept the high-powered Americans to one goal.

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“We never really felt like we had doubt in ourselves,” Smith said. “We were a confident group and believed what we had and brought to the table was enough. It was going out and executing. Everything we had to do to prepare was done … and it went our way.”

Smith, playing on a line with star forward Adam Dixon, finished the tourney with two goals and six points, tied for fourth on the team.

“We were able to find the back of the net a bunch,” he said. “(Dixon) makes it really easy out there.”

Close wins over Czechia and China preceding the gold-medal game not only demonstrated para hockey’s growing parity, but it also hardened the Canadians before facing the U.S. for the last time this season.

“Would you rather beat a team 8-0 going into the final or win a close game that tests you mentally?” Smith said. “I think it helped us and put us in the right head space.”

Smith and his teammates will soon receive their world championship rings at a Hockey Canada gala before entering the off-season. It’s a celebration Smith will savour after questioning his hockey future not long ago.

“That sour taste only lasted two or three weeks and I started missing it,” he said. “My head was in a bunch of places after that. I was pretty upset, mad, angry, sad, was wondering what I would do with all of my free time. A lot of good things came out of that in terms of who I was and what I wanted to do.”

And he has another medal to prove it.

cosmith@postmedia.com

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