Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Healthy Seguin just what Canada needs

Forward says he’s at ‘100 per cent’ after complicate­d series of injuries

- MIKE ZEISBERGER mzeisberge­r@postmedia.com twitter.com/zeisberger

Tyler Seguin says he’s ready to “rock and roll.”

For Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong and coach Mike Babcock, those words must sound like music to their ears.

With forward Jamie Benn and defenceman Duncan Keith having pulled out of the World Cup of Hockey tournament the past two days in order to rehab existing ailments, the fact that Seguin on Wednesday proclaimed he’s at “100 per cent” came as welcome news for a Canadian squad that is in dire need of good health.

A complicate­d series of injuries involving his Achilles and calf caused Seguin to miss 10 regular season games and all but one of the Dallas Stars’ post-season contests in 2015-16, a run that ended with a heartbreak­ing seven-game eliminatio­n at the hands of the St. Louis Blues in the second round.

From his perch in the press box, Seguin felt helpless as his teammates came up just short against the rival Blues. But now, three months later, Seguin is set to play for his country when Team Canada opens training camp on Sept. 5 in Ottawa.

“Probably in the last two weeks to a month, I’ve felt like I’m ready to go,” Seguin told Postmedia during a one-on-one interview Wednesday at the Biosteel camp in Toronto.

“Every day is a new challenge. This injury that I had going back to last season was tough because no one could give me a time line, no one could tell me what I would experience it or how it was going to go.

“But now I’m back in the groove. The past few weeks I hadn’t even thought about the injuries when I’m out there. I’m feeling good and getting ready to get going.”

Seguin admitted being frustrated at not being able to help his teammates last spring.

“There we were, do or die in the playoffs, and I’m sitting upstairs,” he said. “It was tough. But you learn some things sitting upstairs and seeing the game from that standpoint.”

Having turned 24 on Jan. 31, Seguin is just seven months too old to represent Team North America in the tournament. Players on Team North America, which features young guns like Connor McDavid, Johnny Gaudreau, Jack Eichel and

… I hadn’t even thought about the injuries when I’m out there. I’m feeling good and getting ready to get going.

Auston Matthews, must be 23 or under as of Oct. 1.

Asked if he was “intrigued” by Team North America, Seguin broke into laughter.

“You stole my word. If there’s a team that I’m intrigued or curious about it’s that one,” he said. “Obviously you’ve got the USA, the Swedes, the Russians, the Finns, even Team Europe, but for these guys, these young bucks, there is no pressure. These guys have a bit of swagger and a chip on their shoulders. Just look at their roster. They’re young and quick.”

Neverthele­ss he couldn’t be prouder to represent his country.

“I think putting on that Canadian jersey for the first time will be surreal, be special,” he said. “But once the puck is dropped you put that stuff aside.

“You won’t think about how historic it is until we hopefully win the tournament.”

 ?? LM OTERO/THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES ?? Dallas Stars centre Tyler Seguin, left, is healthy while teammate Jamie Benn announced an injury will keep him from playing for Canada at the World Cup.
LM OTERO/THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Dallas Stars centre Tyler Seguin, left, is healthy while teammate Jamie Benn announced an injury will keep him from playing for Canada at the World Cup.

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