Seeking a spot
Islanders’ defenceman Lukas Cormier attending Canada’s world junior selection camp
Lukas Cormier remembers watching teenagers proudly wear the Maple Leaf at the world junior hockey tournament.
Now, he wants to be one of those teenagers who youngsters across Canada look up to during the Christmas break.
The Charlottetown Islanders’ 18-year-old defenceman left Monday for Red Deer, Alta., to take part in Hockey Canada’s selection camp for the world junior tournament, which will be held in Edmonton from Dec. 25 to Jan 5.
“It’s always a great memory every year, so I think it would be extremely special to be a part of that,” Cormier said before departing.
“I just want to play the best I can play and be the best version of myself. Hopefully make my team and community proud.” He has a team full of supporters in Charlottetown pulling for him.
“Any time you get an opportunity to attempt to represent your country, it’s an honour and a privilege,” Islanders’ head coach Jim Hulton said.
“We’re happy for Lukas and we know what a big step it is
for him personally, so we certainly wish him all the best in his pursuit to make the team.”
Cormier is familiar with the Hockey Canada program, having played at the 2018 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge in Saint John, N.B., and he attended a camp for the under-18 worlds.
“It’s always fun to represent your country,” the Sainte-Marie-de-Kent, N.B., native said. “I’ve done it a few times and I look forward to doing it more.”
Hulton has been part of Hockey Canada’s coaching staff at the world juniors in the past. He said Cormier’s previous experience is important.
“He’s had a good track record of success in the Hockey Canada program,” he said. “That plays a big factor when they’re assembling these lists.”
The Islanders drafted Cormier fourth overall in 2018 and while the world juniors are traditionally known as an under-19 tournament, the Islanders brass weren’t surprised he got the call to attend this year’s camp.
“You knew all along that this was probably going to be an opportunity he was going to have,” Hulton said.
Noah Laaouan has been paired with Cormier since being acquired almost two years ago during Cormier’s rookie season. Laaouan said Cormier skates and moves the puck so well that he’s a pleasure to play with.
“I think he is just an overall, wellrounded hockey player. You watch him out there, it can kind of be mesmerizing at times when he has the puck,” he said.
“He has all kinds of skill and has the work ethic to back it up, so it’s really special to watch.”
Cormier won’t have far to look for a familiar face in Red Deer. Athletic
therapist Kevin Elliott is handling the same role for Hockey Canada this year. He has worked the tournament five previous times, culminating in a gold-medal victory in 2018 in Buffalo, N.Y.
“He’s amazing at his job. I’d say one of the best in the business, if not the best,” Laaouan said. “We take for granted some of the things he does for us, so the people there are going to be really lucky to have him.”
The last member of the Islanders to play for Team Canada was goalie Mason McDonald in 2016 while Pierre-Olivier Joseph was at the camp in 2019.