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Montgomery surprised with 'Welcome to the USA' party

Jim Montgomery thought his big day was last Wednesday. That's when DU's head hockey coach became a United States citizen, after 28 years in the country. Little did he know that the real party would be at his house in Highlands Ranch

He wasn't expecting it. Always the coach Jim Montgomery headed home on Monday with his upcoming series against Colorado College on his mind.

That quickly shifted when he walked through his front door.

"I was really surprised. All I'm thinking about is getting ready for C.C., I walk in and I see so many friends and great people I've met while I've been here in Denver, that's why my family and I love Denver," Montgomery said.

Last Wednesday at a ceremony in Centennial, Canadian born Montgomery became a U.S. citizen and it had been a long time coming. His wife, Emily, knew this called for a celebration and threw him a surprise party.

PREVIOUS: DU coach becomes U.S. citizen

"My dad fought in Vietnam, he signed up while it was going on," Emily said. "I was raised with that. Being an American is everything."

"I wanted to do this for my family number 1," Montgomery told 9NEWS. "I looked at the numbers and I've been here 28 years. I consider myself more American than Canadian because of the years I've spent here. This, the friends and family that I have, is America."

What better way to show of the national pride that throwing on a USA hockey t-shirt with Troy Terry's name on it. The DU junior plays for Montgomery and is on the USA Olympic roster. Emily had a bunch of the shirts made.

"I've been excited to see Troy play, I'm proud of him and I know he's going to own the moment so, there it is man," Montgomery said pointing to Terry's name on his shirt.

The new American, embracing that citizenship, and i guess we know who he's cheering for in South Korea.

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