Mcisaac caps comeback in style
World junior hockey champion settles in with Moncton Wildcats
Trailing 3-1 in the third period against the reputable Russians, defenceman Jared Mcisaac and his Canadian teammates tightened their workboots and stuck with the program.
The results turned golden as Canada rallied to win 4-3 in the final of the world junior hockey championship Jan. 5 in the Czech Republic.
“Right from Day 1 (of tryouts), over the course of a month or so, I’ve never seen a team bond together that quickly,” said Mcisaac, a Detroit Red Wings’ prospect who grew up in Truro and Dartmouth.
“It was a really special group. You see what that tight-knit group does for you when you’re down 3-1 and everyone is still pushing each other in the final. It’s pretty special to be a part of, coming back in that fashion and to end up winning it.”
The road to gold was particularly compelling for Mcisaac, one of five players who were back from the Canadian team that lost to Finland in overtime in the quarter-finals at last year’s world juniors. The newest Moncton Wildcat and former Halifax Moosehead had shoulder surgery last June. He had just returned to QMJHL action before Team Canada’s selection camp this December.
“I didn’t really know what to expect going into camp, only playing three games (with Halifax) before camp,” he said. “I’m obviously really happy that I was able to get back in time to be able to contribute as much as I did.
“When I had surgery in Detroit, we kind of set that mark on our calendar. My first game back was Nov. 30. Our goal was to get a couple of games in before camp, and then have the two games against the CIS team, knowing that my game wasn’t going to be great (initially). I was really thankful Hockey Canada realized that, as well, and still believed in me that I could get my game up to speed before the tournament.
“I rehabbed in Detroit for three months, so they’re a big part of why I was back in time and in the physical shape and conditioning that I was to be able to play at such a high level right away. I’d do it again in a heartbeat if it meant me getting back in time to win a gold medal.”
Mcisaac, 19, was a constant on the Canadian blueline, shutting down opponents with his definitive defence and also contributing a goal and four points in seven games. His parents and younger sister Jordan were among the Canadian fans who made the trip to the Czech Republic.
“It was pretty cool,” said Mcisaac, whose Team Canada company included former Halifax teammate Raphael Lavoie, new Moncton teammate Olivier Rodrigue and ex-mooseheads coach Andre Tourigny, the Ottawa 67’s coach who was one of Canada’s assistants.
Joe Veleno, who plays in the AHL with Detroit’s farm team in Grand Rapids, Mich., was one of the key cogs for Canada up front.
“Joe is an unreal player and it’s special to be able to share that (gold medal) with him,” Mcisaac said of his fellow Red Wings’ prospect. “I’m definitely looking forward to what lies ahead in the future, whatever that is.”
For now, Mcisaac’s future is a run for a QMJHL championship with a Moncton team that loaded up at the trade deadline. Along with Mcisaac, the Wildcats added fellow blue-chippers Benoit-olivier Groulx from Halifax and Gabriel Fortier from the Baie-comeau Drakkar.
Groulx, Mcisaac, Rodrigue and Fortier were the top four picks in the 2016 QMJHL entry draft, respectively, and now they’re all teammates in Moncton.
“It’s pretty neat how it unfolded,” Mcisaac said. “We’re all really happy to be in Moncton and we’re looking to the run for the (President) Cup. It’s a great spot, a world-class facility, here. I was pretty blown away the first time I walked in (the Avenir Centre) and got a little tour from one of the guys.”
A week after the world junior final, Mcisaac made his Wildcats debut at home Sunday in a 4-1 win over the Cape Breton Eagles. He had spent a few days with family and friends in Dartmouth and Truro and also visited the University of New Hampshire campus, where his girlfriend Julia Scammell of Truro plays with the women’s hockey team, also named the Wildcats.
While he lived at home during his three and a half seasons with the Mooseheads, Mcisaac resides with a billet family for the first time in Moncton.
“They’re a younger couple, which helps,” he said. “They have a great setup (at their home). Me and Groulx are actually living together, so that makes things a little easier with the transition. It’s been great so far. (Our billet mom) makes some really good meals. We’re close to the rink and to the school that I’ll be going to within the next couple of weeks.”
Mcisaac and Groulx have been linked through hockey for the past four years. They first were teammates with Canada’s entry in the 2016 Youth Olympics at Norway, and their memorable Mooseheads tenure was punctuated with trips to the QMJHL and Memorial Cup finals last season. Groulx was the final cut from Team Canada last month.
Moncton’s lineup includes seven Nova Scotia natives, so Mcisaac is surrounded with more familiar faces. One of those is former Truro minor hockey and Canada Games teammate Christian Huntley, a 20-year-old defenceman.
“I grew up playing with him,” Mcisaac said. “He’s a great guy, too. I’m pretty excited to be able to reunite with all those Nova Scotia guys. It’s pretty neat. You don’t see that very often on one team.”
Although his family moved to Dartmouth when he began playing bantam hockey, Mcisaac still considers Truro his hometown at heart. His accomplishments are a source of pride in the Hubtown.
“It’s great for Truro,” said Truro Bearcats junior A captain Ben Higgins, whose ties with Mcisaac include three seasons with the Mooseheads. “It’s great for the recognition of Truro minor hockey, with Jared being from Truro and then going and achieving all these great things, like getting drafted to the NHL and winning a gold medal with Team Canada. It’s great to see someone from Truro have this great success.”
While it was a golden finish for Mcisaac and company, one of his new Moncton teammates had to settle for a silver lining at the world juniors. Alexander Khovanov scored three goals and eight points in seven games with Russia.
“Someone had to come out on top of that (gold-medal) game,” Mcisaac said. “Fortunate enough, it was Canada. But putting that behind us, (Khovanov) is a great player and I have a lot of respect for how he played during that tournament. Especially in the final, he was a big threat every time he was on the ice.
“Getting to know him (personally) the past couple of days, he’s a great guy. He’s heart and soul for the team.”
As he did with the Mooseheads and with Canada, Mcisaac wears No. 14 with the Wildcats. He faces Halifax for the first time Jan. 25 in Moncton.
“It’ll be different, but definitely looking forward to it,” Mcisaac said. “It sure will be odd looking down the bench and seeing my old colours.”