BIDDEFORD ”“ Brian Dumoulin returned to Biddeford, Monday, for the first time in nearly a month.

And it’s safe to say that the former Biddeford High standout is a changed man since his last visit home.

Who wouldn’t be, after seeing the World ”“ make that the World Junior Championship ”“ first hand for the first time.

While Dumoulin didn’t return home from Buffalo with that Gold Medal that he and the rest of his Team USA mates worked so hard to try to win, he did have a Bronze to show for his effort.

He also had the satisfaction of wrapping up one of hockey’s most prestigious international tournaments on an up note.

“I was just glad that we came that we came back (strong ) against Sweden (in the third place game),” said Dumoulin, who was given a couple days off by Boston College coach Jerry York. “Even though it wasn’t for the Gold, we still won a medal.

Most observers felt that the U.S. should have won the Gold, which would have meant a successful defense of the WJC title it won the year before.

However, those hopes came undone with a lackluster 4-1 loss to Canada in the semifinal round.

“Going in (to the semifinal), we were really excited,” Dumoulin said. “We knew they were going to bring their best, after being upset last year, and wanted revenge. But we just didn’t come to play at all. We just kind of sat and watched (them) play their game. We didn’t want the puck. Just didn’t play our game plan (or) do the things we’d talked about. We just didn’t play our game.”

As it happened, Canada went on to suffer one of the biggest collapses WJC history in the Gold Medal game against Russia, surrendering five straight goals after taking a 3-0 lead into the third period.

Although he’s glad to have his Bronze, Dumoulin said he’d gladly swapped places with the Canadians, even if it meant suffering the same fate as they did.

“I’d rather have played in a championship game,” he said, “and be that close to winning a Gold Medal.”

Dumoulin, of course, has played in several contests with a championship on the line, and has one them all.

Maine state high school titles (back to back), a national junior crown (with the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs), and of course, last year’s NCAA Frozen Four championship with Boston College.

In some respects, he said, all of those previous high stakes encounters gave him an idea of what to expect at the World Junior, when he arrived at the pre-tournament camp on Dec. 16.

Then again, in some respects, not.

“It was a lot of fun,” he said. “But I didn’t realize how long a grind it was. All the traveling, and the pre-tournament stuff. Then when you get to the tournament, you’re almost worn out. But once you get to the tournament, that’s the fun part.”

Dumoulin said that there were some strong differences between what is a year long march toward an NCAA title and the shorter, more intense bid for WJC Gold.

“It’s tough to compare,” he said. “It’s two different styles. When we got to the Frozen Four, we had been playing together for a year. We were all comfortable with each other and knew what each other was going to do with the puck.

“With the (WJC), I don’t want to say we were more individuals, but we all just brought our skills together for a week, and hoped that we’d all mesh.”

There is one other major difference.

In the NCAA tournament, just one team can win its final game.

In the WJC, the chance to play for Bronze provides at least some consolation.

“We were all down after the Canada game,” he said. “We knew that we didn’t play the way we were going to. We needed to prove that we were better than that.”

That they did. That, and a lot more.

Dumoulin, and BC teammates Patrick Wey and Chris Kreider, arrived back to Chestnut Hill from Buffalo in time to help Boston College earn a two game sweep from Providence College.

The effort was well worth it for Dumoulin, who notched his first goal of the season ”“ and second of his college career ”“ in BC’s 3-1 win on Saturday.

“It was nice to get that off my back,” he said.

This Sunday, the Eagles, ranked third in the country, will travel to Orono to tangle with No. 13 ranked UMaine.

— Contact Dan Hickling at dhickling@journaltribune.com.