"It hasn't sunk in yet, but like…this is unbelievable," the Finnish captain said with a smile as wide as the Grand Canyon. "In the beginning, the first games were really tough for us, especially that first game against Sweden. It was a tough loss for us and then again against USA in the [preliminary round], but after the Canada game [in the quarterfinals], everyone got their confidence back and everybody knew we were a good team and could play in the final. This team had a lot of heart. Some people said we were missing a couple of skilled players and were not going to make it to the end, but we proved them wrong."
These two teams in this birth year also battled it out for gold two years ago at the U18 World Championships. USA came out on top that time which made this win for Finland that much sweeter.
"Before the game, I was thinking about how bad I felt after we lost that game and imagine the feeling to win against those same guys here, especially in North America. It's unreal. It feels so good right now," Talvitie said, still smiling.
He didn't feel so good in the first after tweaking his right knee early in the game during a race for the puck along the boards. When he left the ice, he could barely put weight on it.
"Something happened with my knee. I'm not sure what, but it was painful," the Devils 6th round selection in 2017 explained. "But you want to play in this game and you do everything you can to play. The trainers patched me up and I got back out there for a few shifts in the second, but half way through the last period, I just couldn't do it anymore. It got too painful and I had to get off the ice, but it doesn't matter any more. My knee feels great with this gold medal around my neck!"
Head coach Jussi Ahokas used Talvitie in all situations during this tournament and relied on him to play nearly 20 minutes every game - more than 24 in the quarterfinal against Canada - but he could only manage 10 in this gold medal game.
"The whole tournament he's been great, but tonight he hurt his knee and still he came out to play and when it got too painful and he couldn't play anymore, he just came to the bench and cheered the guys on and pumped them up and that tells a lot about his character and what a great person he is," the coach said. "He's been a terrific captain and leader for our team on and off the ice."
Talvitie finished the tournament with four goals and three assists for seven points in seven games and was plus-9.
"I think I played pretty well when it came to playing with the puck. I think that's the biggest area of my game that I need to improve on and I think I managed to do that pretty well here. I was happy with the way I played here," he said. "After we figure out what's up with my knee, I know I'll be able to take what I learned here back to Penn State and continue to get better."
For now, he's soaking in the moment.
"I said before that the overtime goal against Canada was my favorite memory of the tournament. That was a really, really good one, but I've changed my mind," he stated emphatically. "Winning gold is ten times better!"
