Patrick King

Jake Allen.

A gaffe at the WJHC leaves this once can't-miss prospect looking for a second chance.

Jake Allen believes in second chances.

Once considered the top goaltender in junior hockey, Allen is now in dire need of an opportunity to redeem himself after a disastrous performance in junior hockey's grandest stage.

For most hockey fans, Allen will be remembered for his career-defining moment as Canada's starter in the world junior hockey championship. It was then that a routine dump-in during the gold-medal game led to his fall from grace. Allen bobbled the puck, and American forward Derek Stepan corralled it and scored his team's fifth goal - the last shot Allen would face in the tournament.

Canada went on to tie the game before losing in overtime, but the damage to Allen's once proud reputation was done.

Much was said of Allen's performance and many deemed him responsible for Canada's loss in the final.

"Some people who haven't really seen me or heard of me in the past just watched one game and obviously they have that opinion... that I lost it for Canada," Allen said. "I believe in myself (and) I'm not worried about that."

It was a tough pill to swallow for the golden boy who was long since considered Canada's best option between the pipes. As a 1990-birthdate, Allen is ineligible to return for future tournaments.

As Allen mentioned in an exclusive interview with sportsnet.ca, being named the starter of the world junior team was overshadowed by the colour of the medal.

"Obviously, I have regret," he said. "I didn't play my best game (in the final) and everyone knows that. I can't do anything about it now.

"It was a great honour to be named to that team, but winning the silver-medal obviously didn't really mean much to Canada - everyone wants that gold medal."

As difficult as it was for Allen to move forward after such disappointment, he didn't need to look far for motivation.

Six years earlier, a lanky goaltender with tons of promise experienced a similar setback and career-defining moment in the same situation. Marc-André Fleury, then on loan from the Pittsburgh Penguins who had just chosen him first-overall, had his clear-out deflect off his defenceman and into his net. That goal wound up being the gold-medal winning goal for the Americans in 2004, the last such time Canada did not take home the gold.

So deflated was Fleury from that goal, he went from a top prospect to a young player needing to regain his confidence. It took a few years until Fleury was able to become the goaltender he had once been touted, which culminated last year with his Stanley Cup championship.

"That's a perfect example right there with Fleury," Allen noted. "It's a bad goal or a bad game on the world stage and it's not a big deal. You can move on from it and that's what I'm looking forward to doing."

Allen began moving on from the deflating loss by moving to a new team. The Montreal Juniors, not a threat to win the Québec Major Junior Hockey League title, dealt him the following day to the defending league champion Drummondville Voltigeurs for two first-round picks.

The move gives Allen that opportunity he wished for. Previously considered a top goaltender on mediocre teams, Allen now has his first real opportunity to win a league title.

"It's an opportunity every player in the Canadian Hockey League wants - to win their league championship and go to the Memorial Cup," he said. "I couldn't have asked for a better spot, really."

Although there have been many changes in Drummondville from last season, the team is well-equipped to contend for its second title. The Voltigeurs are tied with the Victoriaville Tigres atop the Telus Central Division standings and boast the league's third-best record.

To make matters even more interesting, overage forward Chris DiDomenico is practicing with the team after undergoing a long and rigorous rehab from a broken leg suffered in last year's finals.

"He's really going to be a bonus to our team offensively and defensively," Allen said. "He's an all-around good player."

For now, Allen is enjoying life in his new city. The opportunity to compete for another championship was a breath of fresh air for the much-maligned goaltender in need of a shot at redemption.

"I know some people don't consider us the favourites, but that's fine," he said. "We're just going to keep playing the way we do and we'll be alright.

"I know I don't have a long stay here, but I want to make it one that's worthwhile."