Dobson gets invite
Summerside native competing for roster spot on Team Canada for 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup
Noah Dobson will not be disappointed if his summer is cut short. That’s because it likely means he’d be playing in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup.
Noah Dobson will not be disappointed if his summer is cut short.
That is because it will mean he will be playing for Team Canada at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup.
“I only have a month left of summer if I make the team,” said Dobson, who plays defence and is more than willing to make the necessary sacrifices to represent his country. Dobson, coming off his rookie season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, was one of 44 players invited to the national under-18 camp in Calgary that begins on July 28. The team will leave for Slovakia on Aug. 2, and will return around the middle of August – just in time for the beginning of Quebec Major Junior Hockey League training camps.
“I was pretty excited (to receive an invitation),” said Dobson. “It is an honour to have the chance to fight for a spot on Team Canada.”
International experience
Dobson had his first taste of international hockey with Team Canada Red at last year’s World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. “It was a cool experience playing against Sweden, Russia, the Americans,” recalled Dobson. “It was a good learning experience.”
Dobson noted the experience he gained at that training camp and tournament will prove beneficial. However, he noted there are some differences at the under-18 level.
“Last year it was a development camp, and they picked three teams later on in the year,” explained Dobson. “This year, it’s a selection camp, so you go there for four days and you either make the team and go to Europe, or you get sent home.”
Dobson knows it won’t be easy.
“It’s going to be a competitive camp,” emphasized Dobson. “You have 16 guys (defencemen) competing for six or seven spots.
“It’s going to be intense, and I’m going to try and do my best to make the team.”
Draft eligible
Dobson, who is eligible for the 2018 National Hockey League Entry Draft, felt he had a “really good season overall” with the Titan. In 63 regular-season games, he had 26 points – seven goals and 19 assists – and was a plus-34 while recording 40 penalty minutes. He registered five assists, two penalty minutes and a plus-7 rating in 11 playoff games.
“The first month was tough because I wasn’t playing a lot, and wasn’t comfortable in the league yet,” analyzed Dobson. “When I went to the under-17 (tournament) I got a lot more confident, and when I came back I started playing my game more.
“The second half we had a really good team, and I was playing with a lot of older guys. (Zachary) Malatesta was a 20-year-old who helped me a lot, and we really did well together. We had a good run in the playoffs, losing in Game 7 of the second round.”