Saskatoon Olympic silver medallist Emily Clark returns home with pride

It was a warm welcome for 22-year-old Emily Clark as she returned to Saskatoon from South Korea on Tuesday. People gathered with signs and jerseys to greet the silver medallist.

Clark played forward for the Canadian women's hockey team at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Clark was the youngest person on the team. She said the loss felt surreal.

"It was such an emotional game," Clark said.

"You go from thinking you have it in the bag, to it's tied, to it's overtime ... Personally, after you saw the last attempt get stopped, it almost doesn't feel real."

Gold medal loss

It was a moment of heartbreak for Canadians who watched the women's hockey gold medal final as golden hopes were dashed when Canada lost in a shootout to the U.S.

It was the first time Canada had won anything other than gold in women's hockey since 1998. Team Canada lost in the championship game to the U.S. in Nagano, Japan. 

But with the shock of the loss behind her, Clark said being a role model is more important than the score.

"The impact you have on others will last far longer than what people remember in the scores and results. So, to be able to impact those girls and hopefully inspire them to do the same, that's very special to me," she said.

Next up for Clark, she will return to the University of Wisconsin, where she plays for the U of W Badgers — but she'll always carry her Saskatchewan pride with her.

"I'm so proud to be from here."