Coach, rookie at U-17 challenge
Monday was getaway day for Windsor Spitfires head coach Rocky Thompson, defenceman Connor Corcoran and Windsor native Owen Lalonde, who plays for the Sudbury Wolves.
The three were headed for Sault Ste. Marie as teams begin to assemble for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, which starts on Sunday.
“On (Tuesday), we have our first practice,” the 39-year-old Thompson said. “Four of the first five days are practices and we have one exhibition in the middle and then we start games.
“I’ve never been a part of (the Hockey Canada experience). I’ve never been part of a short-term competition, so it’s very interesting to me.”
This is the same tournament that was held in Windsor and Essex County from Dec. 29, 2011, to Jan. 4, 2012.
Since that time, the tournament has undergone some changes. No longer are there provincial and regional teams carrying the Canadian banner.
Instead, Canada enters three teams in the eight-team tournament.
Thompson will serve as head coach of Team Canada Red. Corcoran and Lalonde are teammates on Team Canada Black. Team Canada White was the tournament champion a year ago.
“I think everyone goes to a tournament looking to win gold, so I think that’s the biggest goal we are going to try and accomplish,” said the 16-year-old Lalonde, who was the second overall pick by Sudbury at this past summer’s OHL Draft.
A total of 111 players were invited to Calgary by Hockey Canada in late July to begin the process to select 66 players for the tournament.
“I’ve got a huge amount of my group (back), which is great,” said Thompson, who added one new forward, two defencemen and one goalie from his original group. “Almost 90 per cent of the team is familiar with myself and my staff and how we run things and the culture we started to instil.
“You’re there for nine days and with each other 24 hours a day, so you’re able to establish somewhat of a foundation, and relationships have already started, so it makes for a little bit of a quicker transition for us coming in for the first five days.”
But making the team is just the start as far as Corcoran is concerned.
“It feels really good and it’s an honour to be selected, but the hard work is just beginning,” said the 16-year-old Corcoran, who was Windsor’s first pick in this year’s OHL Draft with the 21st selection overall.
“It’ll be a fun week. It’ll be different. They like that I’m versatile and I can join (the rush).”
Lalonde has already been logging heavy minutes with the Wolves, but wants to continue that play at the event, which also features teams from the United States, Russia, Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic.
“I’m looking forward to the experience,” Lalonde said. “(I’m) just trying to play the right way and represent my country the right way.”
The players are expected to be well prepared when the event starts and Thompson said the coaching staffs have also been given plenty of instruction prior to the tournament.
“We’ve been through the seminars and there are some great mentors there with good advice for what you need to look for, but you don’t know what it’s like until you’re in the middle of it,”
Thompson said. “I’m excited for it.”