HEADING TO RUSSIA
Verhaeghe’s breakout season earns him a spot on the U-18 squad
Waterdown teen Verhaeghe picked to wear Maple Leaf.
Several weeks back, he got a call from Hockey Canada telling him he was on the short list for the world under-18 tournament team and might soon get an invitation to play for his country. Stay ready.
So he did. After all, the event is a big deal. Tons of future NHLers have played in it over the years and used it as a final launching pad to the draft. Plus, Carter Verhaeghe had never worn the Maple Leaf before. In fact, he’d never even played for Team Ontario. For him it would be a really big deal.
Except it didn’t happen. The phone didn’t ring. When the list of players came out online and Twitter posts started flying around, he wasn’t on it.
“When I didn’t see my name, I guess I was a little disappointed,” says the 17-year-old from Waterdown.
It’s probably f air to suggest his level of disappointment was slight- ly more acute than what he’s letting on. How could it not be? He’s never had trouble making any team in his life.
The St. Mary student was a star on the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs, which got him selected i n the second round of the OHL draft in 2011. He made the Niagara IceDogs in his first try and put up decent freshman totals of four goals and 12 assists.
With more playing time this year, he exploded. His totals shot up to 16 goals and 28 assists. That landed him in the 122nd slot on NHL Central Scouting’s list of draft-eligible players. Meaning he’s almost certain to be picked in June.
Even so, after the IceDogs were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs and he didn’t hear anything from the national program, he began making backup plans. Namely, beginning his off-season training.
“I wanted to be in shape for the draft. Who knows, I might’ve been invited to the combine.”
Then, on Monday, he was eating lunch at school when his phone rang. It was his coach from Niagara.
Hockey Canada was going to be calling any minute, Verhaeghe was told. You’re in.
They did call, too. Elated, he text- ed his parents, told some friends who were nearby, and raced home to go get a picture done so he could get his travel visa.
Then he started packing for the trip with his mind wandering a little bit.
“When I was growing up, I always wanted to wear a Canada jersey,” he says.
“It’s a huge honour. I never thought it would be a reality.”
It is now. On Wednesday, he jumps on a plane and flies to Sochi, Russia — site of next winter’s Olympics — where he’ll catch up with the rest of the team that’s been there for a few days and has already had some exhibition games. The tournament starts the next day. If Canada makes it all the way to the finals, he won’t be getting home until the very end of the month.
Of course, this means he’s going to miss a few tests back at school. “Quite a few,” he says. Does that bother him? Especially this late in the academic year? He laughs. “Don’t mind a bit.”