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Ron Wilson on World Juniors experience: ‘I learned I could still coach’

Toronto Maple Leafs v Winnipeg Jets

WINNIPEG, CANADA - FEBRUARY 7: Toronto Maple Leafs’ head coach Ron Wilson calls instructions to his team during a game against the Winnipeg Jets in NHL action at the MTS Centre on February 7, 2012 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Marianne Helm/Getty Images)

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Ron Wilson isn’t banking on a return to an NHL bench after leading the Americans to bronze at the World Juniors.

But the former head coach of the Ducks, Capitals, Sharks and Maple Leafs did enjoy his experience with USA Hockey.

“I learned I could still coach,” Wilson told the Toronto Star. “Sometimes I had my doubts there after my Toronto experience. I was getting criticized from all sides. You learn to trust yourself. That’s what I did, I trusted myself and we were rewarded.”

Wilson was as outspoken and self-assured as ever the past few weeks. He called out TSN for hyping up the tournament to the detriment of Team Canada. He called out Team Canada for taking too many penalties versus the Finns. He even quasi-bragged that he “couldn’t tell you any players on the Russian team,” right before the Russians beat his American squad in the semifinals.

Though Wilson said he’d “entertain” an offer from an NHL team, the 60-year-old said he wasn’t “expecting anything” and that the only thing he planned to do now was get back to golfing.

Related: Columnist implores Leafs fans to stop being so mean to Ron Wilson