Canucks prospect Woo rounds out game
Heavy-hitting defenceman has also been collecting points in junior hockey this season
Jett Woo’s adding some refinement to his game.
The Vancouver Canucks prospect isn’t playing with a pinky sticking out, like he’s drinking afternoon tea. The 18-year-old Winnipeg native, who’s been characterized as a hard-nosed, stay-at-home defenceman since the Canucks used a second-round draft pick on him last June, is showing off more of an offensive upside this season with the Moose Jaw Warriors, including helping run their power play.
Woo looked comfortable at the top of Moose Jaw’s 1-3-1 first-unit formation in Saturday night’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Vancouver Giants at the Langley Events Centre. He also scored Moose Jaw’s goal at even strength, sneaking a screened shot from the right faceoff circle past Vancouver netminder Trent Miner in the first period.
It was his ninth marker of the campaign, which left him tied him for the fourth-best output among WHL blue liners. He’s seventh in points among defenceman with 38 in 39 games.
Maybe most telling, his 18 power-play assists tied him for the second-best total among rearguards, behind the 22 put forth by Calen Addison of the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Addison is a smaller, puck-moving type. Woo is a 6-foot, 203 pounder known more for putting his shoulder into opponents rather than putting his passes into the one-timer wheelhouse of teammates.
“We’ve got a lot of guys who could be on the first power play here. It’s a lot of fun being on it and being able to make plays,” said Woo.
Woo has had four Hockey Canada stints so far, including playing with the national Under-16 team that went to the Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway in 2016. Giants coach Michael Dyck was part of that coaching staff and says Woo, “was one of one our top defensive guys. He blocked a lot of shots and
played a physical game.”
“Since that time,” Dyck added, “he has improved his offensive game considerably.”
Moose Jaw went 0-for-6 with man advantage against the Giants, but that was more of a testament to Miner and the way Vancouver shut down lanes than it was to what Moose Jaw was doing.
Vancouver has the league’s third-best penalty kill, working at 85.3 per cent (27 goals against, 184 times shorthanded).
Moose Jaw has the league’s fourth-best power play, clicking at 25.6 per cent (40-for-156). Their first unit also features Team Canada defenceman and Montreal Canadiens prospect Josh Brook, 36-goal over-ager Tristin Langan, Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Justin Almeida and 17-year-old up-and-comer Brayden Tracey.
Moose Jaw (24-1-6-2) had the league’s seventh-best record after Saturday’s loss. Vancouver (29-12-2-0) was fourth.
Woo has one power play goal to date this season. He had two power play goals and six assists with the man advantage in an injury-shortened 44 games last season, on his way to nine goals and 25 points. He says that all his power play time last season came early in the campaign.
“I’m trying to round out my whole game. I think every player wants to do that,” said Woo. “I’m trying to not rush it. I’m trying to learn the right things at the right times.
“I’m just trying to develop the right way.”
There wasn’t the big, bruising bodycheck Saturday that has been a frequent of Woo’s game the past couple of years. He was on the ice for the game winner, a Davis Koch tap in off a crafty feed from Dylan Plouffe at 2:58 of the extra session. Moose Jaw got caught running around after Tristen Nielsen caused a turnover along the boards in the Warrior zone.
There was a certain playoff feel to the game, with neither side giving up very much. It was calculated, cautious. The Giants, winners in six straight, had played Friday in Spokane and spent the evening in Everett before coming home. It was also the fourth game in five nights for Moose Jaw.