Reinhart will be an unflappable force on Canada’s back end
The Hockey Canada brain trust uses words like ‘efficient’ and ‘economical’ about Griffin Reinhart, which is interesting, considering the Edmonton Oil Kings defenceman checks in at 6-feet-4, 205 pounds.
“The catchphrase for Griffin is ‘less is more,’ ” said Team Canada head coach Steve Spott, who also coaches the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL. “That’s why we’re so excited about having him on this team.
“Because he understands his role, he stays within his parameters and, as a coach, when he’s on the ice, you’re worried about the next pair coming up because you feel completely safe when he’s out on the ice.”
With the Oil Kings, Reinhart is the go-to guy, a defenceman for all situations, the captain and the Big Cat, in no particular order. True to his nickname, he is one cool customer, economical with his words, as well.
“It’s definitely new — it’s a good feeling,” Reinhart said after he and 22 teammates had survived all the roster cuts to earn spots on the team, which travels to Ufa, Russia to play in the 2013 World Junior Hockey Championship from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5. “It’s something that I haven’t done before.
“It’s also my first time at this camp, so it’s a big accomplishment.”
That it is. And a significant one, considering the competition for seven spots on Canada’s back end. Returnees Dougie Hamilton, a Boston Bruins pick, and Scott Harrington, a Pittsburgh selection, lead a quality group that includes puck movers Morgan Rielly (Toronto), Ryan Murphy, of Spott’s Kitchener Rangers, and Xavier Ouellet, a Detroit draft choice.
Reinhart, taken fourth overall last June by the New York Islanders, made Team Canada ahead of the multitalented Matthew Dumba, of the Red Deer Rebels, Ryan Sproul, of Sault Ste. Marie, and Frank Corrado, of the Sudbury Wolves, among others.
One of three elite hockeyplaying sons of longtime NHL defenceman Paul Reinhart, he plays a smart game, particularly in the defensive end, which helps make it a comfort zone for coaches like Spott.
“It’s a wonderful feeling to have as a coach, that when Griffin Reinhart is out on the ice ... you know he’s going to be safe, he’s going to be steady, efficient,” Spott said. “And I think the word ‘efficient’ is the one that most describes him. He just slows the game down, he keeps it simple.
“He’s never in bad defensive posture and he just understands the game at an elite level.”
It’s expected Reinhart will slot in as the club’s fifth defenceman, at least to start with, but he’ll also log minutes killing penalties, something he does superbly for the Oil Kings, who lead the WHL in that area.
“He’s a big body, he’s a shutdown guy,” said Kevin Prendergast, Hockey Canada’s head scout. “He’s not flashy or anything like that. He’s efficient, he gets the job done.”
Along with highlightreel players like Murphy and Rielly, you need a mix on a championship team. Not that Reinhart is a onedimensional player. Far from it.
He racked up 36 points for the Oil Kings in the 201112 season, although he’s below that pace this season.
“He has an underrated skill set,” Spott said.
“He can play some power play. He can do those things in junior. Whether or not he’ll do that on this team remains to be seen.
“But, ultimately, when it comes to a shutdown, penalty-kill situation, (we rely) on Griffin. He understands that, he’s accepted it. He did it on the Under-18 team with me, he did it last summer and I’m very confident he can do it again.”
No doubt Spott’s history with Reinhart as his coach, climbing Hockey Canada’s international team ladder, had to help him earn a trip to Russia.
But so did his unflappable demeanour.
“I haven’t really experienced too much nerves (at camp), it was more excitement than nerves,” said Reinhart, who helped the Oil Kings win the WHL title last year to compete in his first Memorial Cup.
“Even last year in the playoffs, I was more excited than nervous.”
You’d have to think it’s certainly a useful thing, particularly on Thursday when the eight final cuts reduced the team to its 23-man tournament format.