Catching up with Cam: jersey numbers, staying hot and going for gold

Like his Blue Jackets teammates, Cam Atkinson wasn't ready for the season to end.
After missing more than a month's worth of games because of two injury issues, not to mention a frustrating start to the season statistically, Atkinson was ready for more after Columbus was eliminated by the Washington Capitals in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
He was invited to join the U.S. contingent in Denmark for the 2018 IIHF Men's World Championship and didn't need much prodding from Bill Zito, the Blue Jackets' assistant general manager who constructed Team USA's roster as its general manager for the tournament.
It turned out to be a great decision by Atkinson, who's had a new jersey number in Denmark (89), but similar results to the final two-plus months of the season. After racking up 33 points (18 goals, 15 assists) in the final 33 games of the regular season, and adding four more in the playoffs (two goals, two assists), Atkinson hasn't missed a beat.
Heading into a quarterfinal matchup against the Czech Republic on Thursday in Herning, he's tied for sixth in overall scoring with 10 points (six goals, four assists) and is playing on the top line with Chicago Blackhawks star right wing Patrick Kane, the U.S. captain.
Following Team USA's loss to Finland on Tuesday, BlueJackets.com caught up with Atkinson by phone for an interview. Here's how it went:

Two game-winning goals, 10 points in seven games ... are you going to just keep the number 89 now?
Atkinson: "Honestly, it's kind of up in the air. For me right now, it's 50/50. I really like the number. I've actually always wanted to be 89, but we'll see. There's still some time left in this tournament, a chance to have some more success. So, we'll see how it unfolds."
So, if you score the game-winner to win the gold, mark you down as 89?
Atkinson: "There's a very good chance, if that happens, that … yeah."
The number actually looks like a good fit on you …
Atkinson: "That's what a lot of people have been saying. Honestly, if it was available at [Boston College], I probably would've been 89, but Coach [Jerry] York only allows you to go up to 30 or whatever it is."
Why'd you pick 13 when you were there?
Atkinson: "I was three in high school and three growing up, but three was retired at BC for Mike Mottau, who won the Hobey Baker. So, 13 was the next available number with three in it. So, I had some success there and I've had success with that number being a pro, as well, but I don't know … 89 … it's a like a new, fresh start, ready to rock-and-roll. So, we'll see."
Is Kane telling you to think about it?
Atkinson: "He's actually talking me into it. He's the one who was like, 'Honestly, I think you should. The number looks good on you. So, if he's telling me to do it, then I have to listen to him."
What's it been like as Kane's linemate the past few games?
Atkinson:"It's pretty cool. He's the face of USA Hockey, in my eyes, and I think everyone else's eyes in the hockey world. He was actually one of the main reasons why I decided to come here, with my wife pregnant. I had the opportunity to keep playing, but knowing he was here leading the way, it was a no-brainer."
Did your wife go to Denmark too?
Atkinson: "She's due at the end of July, but she's in her third trimester and I didn't want her traveling all the way over here by herself. My dad's here with me, though."
Any chance you can roll this hot stretch you're riding into the start of next season?
Atkinson: "I think so, absolutely. For me, it's just all about playing hockey right now, and helping USA win a gold. It wasn't the way we wanted it to end [in Columbus]. I just had the itch to keep playing and keep improving my game. I feel really confident right now, just playing. I feel real good out there. I'm obviously playing with some pretty good players. It's been a great experience."
Which was sweeter … the two shootout goals to beat Canada in the first game or the overtime game-winner to beat Latvia last week?
Atkinson: "I don't know. Probably the shootout, to be honest, just because it's one-on-none with the goalie. The overtime goal was special too. We had some pretty high offensive talent on that unit at the time, but to beat Canada is always good."
And you got to shoot twice in that shootout …
Atkinson:"I actually had no idea that was the rule. I knew that they did that in the Olympics. I saw it there with [T.J. Oshie in 2014], but I didn't know it was the same kind of format, same rules. I think the NHL should change to those rules. Whoever has the hot stick is going …"
Only you and Panarin would take the shots …
(laughs)
Looking ahead to the quarterfinals, how much confidence have you guys built up after losing just once in the preliminary round?
Atkinson: "We're definitely a confident group. If there's one game to lose, I guess today would've been the game to lose. A couple bounces didn't go our way, but I thought we played a pretty solid game. Didn't get the result, but we're definitely a confident group going into Thursday's game against the Czech [Republic]. We'll have a practice [Wednesday] to get better and kind of go over some video of what we need to improve on, but we're definitely feeling good about ourselves and looking forward to playing when it really matters."
Bill Zito said it's not an the elephant in the room anymore. You guys are playing in honor of Jim Johannson, former executive director of USA Hockey who died, shockingly, in January. Do you sense that too?
Atkinson:"Absolutely, from the get-go, from Day 1, that's the main focus here, you know, winning gold and doing it for J.J. And what better way of doing that than winning gold and representing the USA in his honor? His brother [John Johannson] is here right now, so we know we have a specific mission and a goal. It is to win gold, but we're doing it all for J.J."
Are you and Kane swapping stories about playing with Panarin yet?
Atkinson (laughs): "No, but we definitely talk about him a little bit. Kane says he likes playing with me better, to be honest, so …"
So, safe to say you're glad you decided to play? Did you just want to keep going?
Atkinson: "That's how I felt. We felt like we wanted to win a Stanley Cup [in Columbus] and I felt we had the opportunity to. Sometimes it doesn't go your way, but I had the itch to keep playing and now we have another chance to win something, and to do it in J.J.'s honor, to rack up some hardware … it's going to be a tough battle Thursday, but I'm looking forward to it. It should be a good game."
Is it important to play meaningful games like this in May?
"Yeah, absolutely, because at the end of the day you want to play until June [in the NHL]. It's obviously a very long season, with 82 games or however many games you end up playing, whether you're injured or sick or whatnot, but the main objective is to be playing in June. Anytime you get a chance to play throughout May, and let your body adjust and adapt to that, it's great - and we're playing high-level hockey over here."