This time, Jonathan Bernier made no mistake about it.

One year after being cut at the last possible moment from the Canadian National Junior Team, the Lewiston Maineiacs’ goaltender learned Thursday that he’d be making the trip this time around.

“It’s nice,” Bernier said. “(Former Lewiston coach and Team Canada assistant) Clem (Jodoin) told me last year to keep my head up because this year I was going to smile. You have to earn your spot. I had a pretty good camp, I did my job, and we’ll see if I will start now.”

“Today was a tough day,” Jodoin said. “It was the end of a dream for 15 players.”

Bernier’s Lewiston teammate, defenseman Kevin Marshall, was one of those final cuts.

“Kevin took it hard,” Jodoin said, “but he left a very good impression, a very, very good impression.”

“There were people here surprised (Marshall) was cut,” admitted Bernier. “He had a great camp here, he did what he had to do, and for sure next year he’s going to have another chance.”

Bernier knows a bit about getting that second chance.

“It’s not the end of the world, but it hurts for a while,” Bernier said. “You just have to come back stronger the next time. You have to play through it and wait for your chance.”

Bernier and Steve Mason of the London Knights in the OHL are the team’s two goalies. Bernier said Thursday that the pair will split time in exhibition games, with the starter for the actual tournament – which runs from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 – still undetermined.

This is Bernier’s second foray into international competition this year. He was chosen to represent Canada in this summer’s Canada-Russia Super Series, a string of eight games played between the top junior hockey players from the two countries.

Canada won seven of the eight games, with one ending in a tie. Bernier went 3-0-1 in that series, with a .945 save percentage.

After last year’s experience, Bernier said this time around, he was a bit stronger mentally, and that will help him as he tried to help Canada win a fourth consecutive gold medal at this tournament.

“I was more comfortable,” Bernier said. “It’s a lot more like this when you know what is coming up. It’s a little bit easier.”

Bernier, the No. 1 draft pick of the Los Angeles Kings in 2006, spent part of this season with the Kings. He even started their opener in London against the Anaheim Ducks, and won his debut.

But a few weeks later, the Kings returned Bernier to Lewiston.

It hit Bernier hard at first, and he struggled to regain the form that helped Lewiston to a 16-1 playoff record in its run to the President’s Cup last spring.