Huberdeau suspended for bumping referee
Returning Canadian world junior forward Jonathan Huberdeau had his hand slapped by the Quebec Major Junior League on Monday.
The Saint John Sea Dogs forward received a four-game suspension for the abuse of an official and for instigating a fight in the last five minute of Sunday’s 4-2 regulation loss to the host Halifax Moose heads.
Huberdeau had appeared to drag down linesman Jay Doiron who was trying to hold the winger back from intervening in a dust-up between teammate Ryan Tesink and Halifax defender MacKenzie Weegar. Huberdeau wound up fighting Weegar while Dorion fell to the ice and appeared to be injured.
So, instead of talking about Canada’s upcoming world junior selection camp on Monday, Huberdeau was forced to defend his actions — and character.
“For sure, it’s pretty tough to hear that,” he said. “But it was not intentional. I feel sad for the referee if he got hurt and I talked to him after the game and he didn’t think it was my fault. It was unintentional but what’s done is done and the league made a decision.”
Huberdeau, who healed a broken foot during the 2012 junior camp, was unsure of how Hockey Canada would feel about the incident.
“That’s a good question,” he said. “It wasn’t intentional, but they have to decide that.”
NHL cancels more games
The National Hockey League cancelled another 104 regular season games on Monday, continuing the lockout through Dec. 30.
So, how does that change Team Canada’s selection process, you ask?
“Our plan from Day 1 has been to pick the 23 guys we think will best represent our country and we can’t change that,” said head coach Steve Spott on Monday, addressing reporters at the Four Points Sheraton by Canada Olympic Park. “You don’t want to have to use a Plan B, but ultimately, sure, I’ve got enough steno pads on the go to keep anybody busy.
“We’ve got Roster A, B and C. Our plan right now is to continue forward with Roster A. But there’s still an evaluation that has to take place here. There’s still jobs available, even with the National Hockey League Players at this camp. As I said, we’re going to take the 23 best players and hopefully those players will see the tournament through.”
Spott said there’s a chance they could recall players they cut should the NHL and the NHLPA suddenly strike a deal.
“I think that’s going to be part of the exit process,” he said. “Those are the toughest meetings to have because these kids have never been cut before. So those are tough meetings to have but, sure, that could be a realistic opportunity for those boys, that although it may not have worked out today there may be an opportunity down the line.
“We hope it doesn’t come to that, but it is a realistic possibility.”
Scheifele keeps eyes on prize
Mark Scheifele, like many others, do not know when the National Hockey League will come back and, like many others, he is focusing his efforts on other matters.
“Right now, I’m not thinking about it too much,” said the Winnipeg Jets 2011 seventh overall draft pick. “That stuff is out of my mind right now and my goal right now is to make Team Canada. I haven’t had any conversations with him at all.
“I’m pretty much in the dark but, right now, I’m happy to be here.”
Last fall, the Barrie Colts centreman nearly made the Winnipeg Jets roster, playing seven regular season games and also recording his first NHL goal.
He brought that experience to the 2012 world junior team and then, when his season in Barrie was over, he played 10 playoff games with the Jets’ American Hockey League affiliate St. John’s Ice caps.
No doubt Winnipeg would have given Scheifele a long look at this year’s camp.
But, because of the NHL lockout, he returned to the Colts for another season and could bolster Canada’s lineup once again.
“Obviously, having (Ryan) Nugent-Hopkins, Huberdeau, (Ryan) Murphy, (Ryan) Strome, (Dougie) Hamilton — a lot of great players (that could have been in the NHL this year),” Scheifele said. “That’s a team you want to be a part of. You want to play with the best players of your age, that’s the goal.
“I want to make this team to be part of all these superstars. It’s going to be a fun camp.”
Reinhart may outdo brother
Griffin Reinhart received some words of wisdom before touching down at the Calgary International Airport on Monday.
Having (unsuccessfully) gone through the process last year in Calgary, his older brother Max, a forward for the Abbotsford Heat, sent him a text message that said it all:
“Don’t do what I did and get cut.”
Good advice, but that could be easier said than done for the Edmonton Oil Kings defenceman who is among 12 blueliners fighting for seven spots and one of four drafted in the top-10 of the 2012 draft.
The New York Islanders pick, who went fourth overall, is the highest of the bunch along with Moose Jaw’s Morgan Rielly (fifth overall, Toronto), Red Deer defender Mathew Dumba (seventh overall, Minnesota) and Portland’s Derrick Pouliot (eighth overall, Pittsburgh).
However, with Everett Silvertips star Ryan Murray done for the year with a shoulder injury, there’s a potential spot up for grabs.
“He’s a fantastic player, in the same division as us,” said Portland Winterhawks defenceman and Calgary Flames draft pick Tyler Wotherspoon, who is also trying to make a bid for the junior team. “A big loss. But I feel like the defencemen trying out for this camp are top-notch, some of the best in the world.
“The competition is still there.”