Don Stoneadge has found a sure-fire recipe for Team Canada's success and it includes Yukoners.

Last year, his B.C. Polar Bears U-17 hockey team broke a 13-year drought for Canada at the Challenge Cup in Prague, Czech Republic, claiming the country's first championship in the prestigious summer tournament's history.

They did it with Haines Junction's Reid Campbell leading the way on defence, serving as alternate captain and earning loads of praise from Stoneadge.

So when it came time to planning his roster for this year's Challenge Cup, the head coach from B.C. decided to not only include Campbell, but also have the big C stitched on his sweater.

And hey, since it worked so well the first time, why not bring a couple more Yukoners along?

'I travel all over the province, so I know who I want,' stated Stoneadge, in an interview from his home on Vancouver Island earlier this week. 'When I see a player, I can tell if he's going to fit in on the team right away.'

Stoneadge had heard about Whitehorse forward Drew Pettitt, as well as Campbell's younger brother, Evan, before. But when he finally got a chance to watch them play at the Richmond international tournament last winter, where the midget Mustangs finished second, he knew he wanted to add both of them to the Polar Bears roster.

'I loved everything I saw about those two players,' he said. 'I knew in the right environment, they would be very good. And I was bang on.'

Pettitt, Reid and Evan packed their bags and headed for the Czech Republic with their teammates on July 29. They had just three practices and one exhibition game to get familiar with their teammates and comfortable with line combinations.

'The first few practices, we were kind of shaky,' admitted Reid. 'But as captain, it's my job to bring the team together. We all came together well in the end.

'It's quite the honour to be captain of your country. I felt pretty good having the C on my shoulder.'

The captain helped lead his troops to a perfect 6-0 tournament record, as the Canadian squad claimed their second straight Challenge Cup championship the first time any team has ever won the Cup back-to-back in the tournament's history.

'It's a special feeling to win gold for the second straight time,' said Stoneadge. 'I'm so proud of the boys and proud to be Canadian.'

The Polar Bears started with a 4-0 round-robin victory over Latvia, followed by an 11-0 domination of Hchbenda Prauge, 6-0 pasting of the Czech Republic and 7-2 win against Poland.

From there, it was a semifinal date with Lithuania, a team Pettitt admitted they didn't give enough respect to in the beginning. Suddenly, they found themselves down 4-1 heading into the second intermission.

They had a team meeting and when they hit the ice in the third 'we were obsessed,' said Stoneadge. 'We were all over them.'

Fourteen seconds into the third period, Pettitt hit the twine his second goal of the night to make it 4-2. The Bears scored two more before the end of regulation, one with about a minute left and their goaltender on the bench, tying it up and sending it to overtime.

The Bears hit a couple posts in OT but nothing was solved. Instead, their birth in the final would be decided by shootout, and the final score was 5-4 for the Canadians.

While they came away with the victory, Stoneadge said it was a much-needed wakeup call as they got set for the gold medal game against the United States.

'We took a period off (against Lithuania) and it cost us. When we came out against the States, I just knew. There was no way those kids were going to be denied gold.

'Once we got up on them, we just played a defensive system. We never allowed them to get a sniff. We took the body well, put puck pressure on the opposition all the time.'

'I don't think anyone could have come back on us with the way we were playing,' agreed Pettitt. 'Even though we were up by a few, we remembered what happened in the semis, when we came back from a 4-1 deficit, so we played really good defensive hockey.'

It was a 5-2 final, in a match that was very physical, with the Americans taking tons of penalties. Pettitt said it was a lot rougher than the other games because the language barrier didn't exist between the two teams.

'They were the only team we could trash talk,' he laughed.

Stoneadge said as much as the opposition tried to goad them into fighting, the Canadians turned their backs and stuck to the game plan. He believes that sportsmanship is the reason most of the fans were behind the Polar Bears.

'We played before a packed house in the final. There were so many Canadian flags, painted faces. I think we won the hearts of the Europeans.'

Pettitt said it was unbelievable how much support they received at the tournament, even from the other teams they were competing against.

'It seemed like it was Canada or nothing.'

It was an atmosphere Pettitt was able to preserve on film, grabbing his camera with about 10 seconds left and recording every moment of the championship victory. A lot of people don't get to play for their country, he said, and he's not sure when, or if, he'll get another chance.

'There's no words to describe the feeling. It gives you a lot of pride.'

Despite the fact it was his second time at the tournament, Reid agreed the feeling never gets old. This year was especially important for him, because he got the chance to play with his younger brother.

'That meant a lot to me. Evan and I haven't played on a team together since probably pee wee. It was awesome.'

All three Yukoners played a huge role in the championship win, according to the coach. Reid was the 'go-to-guy' as captain for the Polar Bears while Evan and Drew formed part of the first line for most of the tournament, were the first unit on the penalty kill and saw lots of power play time.

'I can't say enough about their work ethic,' said Stoneadge. 'All three of them played a major part. They were just monumental.

'I'm Reid Campbell's biggest fan. Reid was arguably the best defenceman in the tournament and he was big in the dressing room too. He took that job very seriously.

'Evan ... I don't think people (in the Yukon) have ever seen him play at that level. He was special.

'Drew, he's one hell of a hockey player.'

Stoneadge said he would never hesitate to put Yukoners on his team's roster for the Challenge Cup in the future, especially if they skate the way Pettitt, Reid and Evan do. Part of that credit, he said, goes to Drew's mom Trish, a Whitehorse figure skating coach who runs power skating classes.

Stoneadge has also been putting in a good word for Drew and Reid with junior and major midget hockey teams in B.C. He believes it's important to set the kids he coaches on the right path.

A handful of players from the Polar Bears will likely crack Western Hockey League rosters this season while three players from last year's Cup crew will suit up for Minot State University in North Dakota a program Stoneadge has recently become involved with.

'We don't just let you go. I make sure you're going in the right direction, to Junior A, B or major junior. After that, I get them off to college. They can continue playing the game they love and get their education at the same time. That's what it's all about.'

Reid is currently staying with Stoneadge while he tries out for the Campbell River Storm, a Junior B team, and the Junior A Powell River Kings.

Powell River traded one of their defencemen just before the Polar Bears left for Europe, so there's an opening now in their lineup.

'I hope to be playing in Powell River, but I'm not 100 per cent sure where I'll start the next season,' said Reid.

The Prince George Caribou Canucks are now accepting Yukoners for their major midget team, similar to the Fort St. John Flyers , so that's also an option for Reid, as is Fort St. John, where he played for the last two seasons.

Drew may also end up in Prince George or Fort St. John, but is hoping to stick with a team in Junior A. He leaves for the Langley Chiefs main camp on Monday and has also been invited by the coach of the Prince George Spruce Kings, Junior A, to try out for that team.