Quick studies patrol blueline
MALMO, SWEDEN — Aaron Ekblad and Derrick Pouliot didn’t know much about each other before the world junior championship began. They’re learning quickly. “We’re starting to read off each other a little better,” Pouliot said. “More communication. As you get to know the guy a little better, it becomes a little easier on the ice.”
The two defencemen have been Canada’s only constant pairing on the back end during the tournament.
That’s expected to continue Thursday when Canada takes on Switzerland in the quarter-final.
“Pouls controls the game and handles the puck really well,” Canadian head coach Brent Sutter said. “Just a great understanding (of the game) and a very intelligent hockey player.
“Then you have a young guy like Ek. For the most part, he’s been pretty darn good for us. For a 17-year-old, he’s played extremely well.”
On the ice, they look quite like they come from different worlds. In some sense, they do.
Pouliot, 19, from Weyburn, Sask., relies on his skating and puck-handling abilities. He quarterbacks the first-unit power play. The six-foot Portland Winterhawks blueliner tips the scales at 203 pounds.
Ekblad, meanwhile, is two years younger from Belle River, Ont., located just outside of Windsor.
Roommate Mathew Dumba calls him a man-child, a player who must shave his chest because he has the body of a 35- or 40-year-old.
“I can’t believe how mature he is for a 17-year-old,” said Dumba of the almost six-foot-four, 216-pound defenceman.
Ekblad’s teammates call him “Shrek,” the name of the ogre from the series of animated movies.
It was a nickname first given to him by former Canadian world junior centre Boone Jenner, who played against Ekblad while with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals.
“I’m not sure I like it too much though,” said Ekblad, who plays for the Barrie Colts. “I like Shrek. I’m not sure I look like him or anything.”
But in other ways, Pouliot and Ekblad are so much alike.
Pouliot was picked first in the WHL’s bantam draft in 2009. He was a first-round selection by Pittsburgh (eighth overall) in 2012.
Ekblad was the first pick in the 2011 OHL draft after being granted exceptional status to join the league a year early. He’s a surefire top 10 pick for the 2014 NHL draft.
Connor McDavid is the only other first-overall CHL pick on Team Canada.
Canadian assistant coach Ryan McGill senses a real connection between Pouliot and Ekblad.
Ekblad watches how Pouliot approaches drills in practices or how he refocuses between shifts.
“You have to remember, there’s mentorship going on, but it’s going on in subtle ways,” said McGill. “It’s not always verbal communication.”
Although Sutter has seen signs of young mistakes from Ekblad, they are rarely repeated.
“At this level they’re going to happen,” he said. “But he learns from it. He’s a sponge for the game.”