Juniors enjoy boost from NHL lockout
The expectations are high, as always. But this year, they’ll be even higher for Canada’s national junior squad that is reaping the benefits of the ongoing National Hockey League lockout.
The bar has been raised for the 23 teenagers who’ll head over to Ufa, Russia, after being named to the team on Thursday at Hockey Canada headquarters in Calgary.
Many could have played for NHL clubs this year, including Edmonton Oilers centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Florida Panthers prospect and 2011 third-overall pick Jonathan Huberdeau, New York Islanders fifth overall pick in 2011 Ryan Strome, and Winnipeg Jets pick Mark Scheifele.
On paper, the group is fast, skilled, and deep up front and experienced on their back-end. Their three netminders, Jake Paterson of the Saginaw Spirit, Malcolm Subban of the Belleville Bulls, and Jordan Binnington from the Owen Sound Attack, have all played big-time minutes.
Now, putting it together before the team opens the tournament on Dec. 26 in Ufa, Russia, will be the trick.
“The word we’ve talked about is habits,” said head coach Steve Spott. “I think when you have a group as elite as we have, it’ll be about habits. Managing ice time, shift length, power-play opportunity, sacrificing, line changes — all of those details are going to make us successful.
“It’s such a fine line, winning a gold medal this tournament because the teams are so good. ”
The last time Canada competed in the world juniors during an NHL lockout was 2005 when a stacked team featuring Dion Phaneuf, Ryan Getzlaf, Andrew Ladd, Shea Weber, and Corey Perry captured gold at Grand Forks, N. D.
Nugent-Hopkins was 12 at the time.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” said the first overall pick of the 2011 NHL draft said Thursday, which is also proof the world truly does work in mysterious ways as he was cut from the junior team in 2010 as a 17-year-old.
“I’m going to look back and have no regrets. “I’m happy I went through all of this.”
Mean while, Nathan Mac Kinnon, the projected first-overall pick at the upcoming 2013 NHL draft, and his Halifax Mooseheads linemate Jonathan Drouin will be the first 17-year-old players named to the Canadian squad since Sidney Crosby. Obviously, they were picked for a reason — and showed it during this week’s selection camp. “They played like they were 27,” Spott said. “And for me that’s what made the difference. They didn’t play like they were 17.
“As I said, they’re both unique players, but they’re both unique individuals, where I know they can handle the scrutiny and the media and obviously the pressure that comes with being their age. That was a big decision, but I’m fully comfortable they can handle it.”
Spott has been in constant communication with Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson, director of hockey operations Scott Salmond, and chief operating officer Scott Smith about a sudden end to the labour impasse. Some NHL teams have already given their OK to keep players (TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported that Rielly, Jenner, Harrington, and Rattie are fully committed to Team Canada’s roster).
However, in his brief exit conversations with the cut players, Spott said he didn’t mention the possibility of an emergency recall despite the uncertainty. “Some decisions that are going to be made are going to be completely out of our control ...” he said.
“But I’d like to think that when we get on that plane on Saturday, we’re going to finish with the same group we started with.”