Junior ‘veteran’ happy to take lead
Scott Harrington isn’t a huge talker. If something needs to be said, he’ll say it.
But the captain of the London Knights, returning world junior veteran, and newly appointed assistant captain of Team Canada is a leader, just the same.
“Most of the guys in London know that I’m not a shouter or anything like that,” said the big, reliable defenceman who was a second round (54th overall) selection of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2011. “I try to let my play lead, let my play speak for itself. On the ice, I try not to play soft-spoken, I guess.
“Off the ice, I’m a pretty even-keeled guy and softspoken.”
Harrington was selected for this year’s leadership group on Friday as the team assembled for the official 2013 team photo along with fellow returning Canadian junior forward Jonathan Huberdeau and captain Edmonton Oilers centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
The decision was an obvious one and was sped up considering Canadian head coach Steve Spott had said earlier this week that the captains would be named when the team arrived in Europe.
Harrington, for one, wasn’t surprised when Nugent-Hopkins had the ‘C’ sewn into his jersey.
“He’s got the most experience out of all of us,” said the Kingston, Ont., native whose Ontario Hockey League club was putting an impressive 18game win streak on the line Friday night against Owen Sound. “I think even if he hadn’t been playing in the NHL, he’d still be a leader on this team; it’s just his personality and the way he carries himself.
“Obviously, we’re lucky and privileged to have him as part of our team this year and we’re looking forward to seeing him on the ice.”
However, leading Team Canada is not simply a oneman job. Huberdeau, captain of the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs, said the work is done by committee.
“It’s nice to be an assistant but it’s not only the three guys,” said the Florida Panthers prospect who went third overall in 2011 and would likely be playing in the NHL this year if it wasn’t for the labour impasse. “Everybody in the room is going to be a part of it. That’s what is great about these tournaments. Everybody here is a superstar with their own teams.
“They all know what to do but they can still help each other out here.”
Harrington, thrilled by Spott’s decision, said any of the 23 Canadian Hockey League players selected on Thursday qualified including the returning players from last year’s group which also includes defenceman Dougie Hamilton and forwards Boone Jenner, Ryan Strome, and Mark Scheifele.
“There’s a lot of leaders on the team and the majority of the guys wear letters on their club team. It is an honour for me to wear a letter here and I’m looking forward to it.
“The six of us, we’re just fortunate to have another opportunity to win a gold medal.”