I've been studying up on the guys that are going to be our 22-man roster at the world Jr. Hockey Championships this year. As usual I have great hopes that our boys will bring home the gold. But THIS year I think I'll have more to cheer about! It seems that the selectors for the team have FINALLY started thinking like I think about hockey: you just can't win if you don't score a goal! There should be NOOO danger of THAT happening unless Don Hay pulls the common, "Okay we got you all for your offensive skills but we want you to abandon them and play defence." I sure hope THAT isn't the case or it'll be a huge waste of talent. But I don't think they've made the mistakes of leaving highly skilled guys off the squad like they have in the past: Taylor Hall in '09, Seguin in '10 and Nugent Hopkins last year. How do you NOT pick the NUGE? This year's squad will have plenty of two things that have been missing most years: scoring and chemistry.
So here's a little run-down of our world jr. team if you haven't read or watched about them yet. I think a lot of people are worried about our defence but once Canada starts playing and they spend 3/4 of the games in the other guys' end of the rink, our defence won't have the spotlight on them for too much longer. Mark Visentin is one of only 4 returning players and he'll play every game barring injury. I don't expect to see Scott Wedgewood except perhaps if Visentin lets in 8 goals or something. (and STILL gets the win :)) But let's start with the defence, shall we?
Defence - Nathan Beaulieu - Strathroy, Ont. Drafted by Mtl. He's got decent size and he's getting more points and penalty minutes per game this year.
Brandon Gormley - Murray River, PEI. Drafted by Phoenix. Did the team Canada camp before. Missed making the team last year because he was injured. There are no returning D-men but Brandon is looking to take a defensive leadership role on the team. He's a point and penalty min. per game guy.
Dougie Hamilton - T.O. Drafted by Boston. Cuz they NEED huge defencemen on Boston! 6'4 193, (still growing), and a right handed shot. Has 45 points in 30 games this year with the Ice Dogs. A point and a half per game on defence is pretty dominant! And he's the YOUNGER Hamilton! I think he'll see some time on the point on the P.P. hopefully playing the left side to get right-handed one-timers.
Scott Harrington - Kingston, Ont. Drafted by Pittsburgh. 6'1, 203. Shut down defenceman even though he's not that big. Played for Don Cherry's team vs. Bobby Orr's. Don liked the fellow Kingstonian so we'll probably like him too.
Ryan Murray - White City, Sask. Not drafted yet. 6'0, 185. Captained the under 18 team to gold at the last Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tourney. Models himself after Scott Niedermayer. Good skating and puck moving defenceman.
Jamie Oleksiak - T.O. Drafted by Dallas. 6'7 240!! Doesn't score a lot but moves well for a massive guy. Very physical. I guess so!
Mark Pysyk - Sherwood Park, Alb. 6'1, 188. Captain of the Oil Kings. Tries to play like Shea Weber. The only Albertan on the team this year. So he'll be familiar with the dressing rooms. (8 others got cut. OUCH!) He had that experience last year. Smooth, all-purpose defenceman.
Forwards Michael Bournival - Shawinigan, Que. Drafted by Colorado. 6'0 187. He's a point-a-game guy who has impressive goal totals. His intensity and no quit attitude make him easy to spot on the ice. I think he'll centre a very high scoring 4th line.
Brett Connelly - Prince George. Drafted by Tampa Bay and got 8 pts. for them in 28 games this season. 6'2, 181 and shoots R. A goal scorer who couldn't showcase it last year on the team. Only 3 assists in 7 games. He was the first 16-year-old to get 30 goals since Patrick Marleau. I'd really like to see him play RW on a veteran line with Schwartz and Howden. They could score a lotta goals together but I think they'll be spread around a younger team that's low on international experience. Never know...
Brendan Gallagher - Tsawassen, B.C. Drafted by Mtl. An Island boy. Only 5'8, 170 but a right-handed dynamo from all accounts. Plays for the Vancouver Giants and is scoring a goal a game and getting 2 PIM's along with that. He was among the final cuts last year, no doubt because of his size. I'm psyched to see him play! I said last year I wished Canada wasn't so concerned about size. I hope he shows us all why they shouldn't be. I'd put him on the RW on that high scoring fourth line.
Freddie Hamilton - another Toronto lad. Drafted by SJ. He gets a point and a half a game. That should come in handy. Famous for his booksmarts. Has like a 98% average in his classes. He's smart on the ice too. Says it's selfish to put your team down a man and is known for RARELY taking penalties. I think he'll be good on the P.P. AND P.K. I'd like to see what he can do at C between Huberdeau and Strome. THAT could be the number one line for Canada in scoring if not in status.
Quinton Howden - Oak Bank Man. Drafted by Fla. 6'3, 183. He scored 2 goals and got 3 assists for Canada last year in 7 games but like Connelly he wasn't playing a scoring role. He got 40 goals in 60 games last year and has 14 in 20 this year. Excellent speed and a great skater. He's also dangerous short handed. I'm a bit worried that his concussion symptoms might cost him ice time this year. He's a LW on a team that doesn't have enough so I hope he's okay.
Jonathan Huberdeau - Prevost, Que. Drafted by Fla. If they weren't doing so well he'd be on the squad this year. He made this World Jr. team without even stepping on the ice, (ankle), but his MASSIVE scoring totals justify it. He's scoring more than two points a game this year. All star at LW last year in the QMJHL with a 105 pt. in 67 game performance. An absolute wizard with the puck! Will make moves that beat the defender then set another guy up for a goal. Could play with Howden since they'll be together in Florida soon but I'd like to see him with Hamilton and Strome, a pair of Ice Dawgs. Wherever he's put the goal lamps will be lighing.
Boone Jenner - Dorchester, Ont. Drafted by Columbus. He gets a point and 2 penalty minutes a game. Has a lot of intangibles. Great at blocking shots and taking faceoffs. He'll be good with Howden and Hamilton on the P.K. I think he might be called on at key face-off times if Canada is in a close game, but I don't expect the games to be that close. Winger on the 4th line I expect. Or possibly just thrown in for P.K. and key face offs.
Tanner Pearson - Kitchener, Ont. NOT drafted. This is THE most interesting guy on the team! A virtual unknown. Not a member of any team Canadas, ignored in the NHL draft, just off the radar. Until now. He's got 66 points including 26 goals for the Barrie Colts in only 30 games! And it's not just because he's on a line with Mark Scheifele. He did just fine when Mark was having a cup of coffee in Winnipeg. He is the OHL's leading scorer right now. No international experience and he pretty much made the world jr. team as a walk-on. I can't wait to see him on LW with linemates Scheifele and DSP! That'll be Canada's number one line I reckon.
Mark Scheifele - Kitchener, Ont. Drafted by Winnipeg and was the talk of pre-season but only one goal in 7 games with the big club this year. He's got 36 pts. in 19 games with Barrie. I guess he missed Tanner Pearson. It'll be awesome to see some chemistry on Team Canada! He's got size, skill and is a right shooting centre. A real bonus to have!
Jaden Schwartz - Emerald Park Sask. Drafted by St. Louis. 5'10, 193. He's not very tough or rugged. Got hurt during the second game of the WJC last year, (ankle), and missed the rest of the tourney. If he stays healthy he's a great passer and works well from behind the other team's net. Could centre a veteran line for team Canada with two other guys, (Howden and Connelly), getting a second shot at the world jrs.
Devante Smith-Pelly - Scarborough, Ont. Played 26 games with Anaheim this year getting 3 goals and 2 assists. But then NObody is scoring for the Ducks this year. Except Fowler. Anyhoo, he gets a point every game and half of them are goals. Has a good scoring touch to round out the top line on RW.
Mark Stone - Winterpeg, Man. Drafted by Ottawa. 6'3, 200 and shoots R. A RW with MASSIVE stats the past two years for the Brandon Wheat Kings! 37 goals, 107 pts in 71 games last year and 27 goals, 65 pts. in only 33 games THIS year. I'd like to see him with Scheifele and Pearson but Smith-Pelly seems to have that role. I think his huge talents might be wasted. He might have to scrap it out with Gallagher or Jenner for a spot on the fourth line.
Ryan Strome - Mississauga, Ont. Drafted by the Islanders. ANOTHER right handed shot! I LOVE it! Another Ice Dawg who can rack up the points. He's listed as a centre but I think he'll be playing right wing with Hamilton, (his teammate), as his centre. He figures to score a pile of points in this year's tourney.
So there you have it! A top line with the highest scoring teammates from the OHL. A second line that could have even MORE scoring. A third line with guys who didn't score enough last year and are out to redeem themselves. And a fourth line that just might outscore the top line of a lot of other teams. And a pretty high scoring defence corp. SCORING! I am going to LOVE watching these guys play even if they don't get the gold! GO CANADA GO!
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