Foote’s big shot has back yard roots
OSTRAVA, CZECH REPUBLIC Nolan Foote grew up with a little rink in the back yard of the family home in Denver.
That’s where his wicked shot, which has baffled goaltenders in Canada’s world junior wins, has its roots.
“It’s always been a thing I loved working on,” the 19-year-old Tampa Bay Lightning first-rounder said. “Lots of shots with (brother Cal, a former world junior gold medallist) and my dad (Adam, a Stanley Cup champion).”
When Foote would tee up those howitzers with the Kelowna Rockets, Mitch Love used to wince. He was an opposing assistant coach with the Everett Silvertips before taking over the Saskatoon Blades this year.
“I’ve seen his shot for a long time. It’s a threat, it’s a weapon. He uses it and knows he has to use it. He knows his attributes,” the Canadian assistant said.
FRIENDLY FACE: Lots of teammates become rivals at tournament time. Oliver Okuliar, a Slovak forward, will take on Lethbridge Hurricanes buddies Dylan Cozens and Calen Addison of Canada on Thursday. Okuliar and Cozens are linemates and form a top one-two punch in the Western league.
“He’s perfect on and off the ice,” Okuliar said of the Buffalo Sabres first-rounder. “I like him so much. He’s so skilled and when we’re on the ice, it’s unbelievable. The coaches get us together and he plays really fast. I’m really good in the corners, so it’s a good mix.”
Cozens, from Whitehorse, Yukon, has a good read on his usual winger.
“I know how to shut him down and get in his head,” he said with a grin.
He may not be alone in that aim. “I know what to do against him, too,” Okuliar said.
HELPING OUT: Forwards Liam Foudy and Connor Mcmichael have moved around the Canadian lineup and that’s nothing new from playing for Dale Hunter in London. They have also been featured as the first penalty killers up front. Foudy’s speed was a major factor in neutralizing the Czech attack early. Mcmichael will likely get moved again from his “wild card” role on the top line now that Alexis Lafreniere is back healthy and he’s going to have to figure out a different way to create offence. Both he and Foudy scored in the 7-2 win over the Czechs on New Year’s Eve and they have four tallies combined.
“For us to both score in the same game on a team coached by Dale, it’s fun,” Foudy said. “We’re getting scoring from everyone. We’ve got a lot of top skilled guys. We all contribute on our own junior teams. We come here and we all know what we’re capable of.”
MAKING THEM PAY: Canada’s nine power-play goals are the most in the tournament. They effectively did that in three games, too, because they got shut out by Russia. Why is it working so well, even as the players in the system rotate in and out?
“We’ve been preaching simplicity,” Love said. “It seems to be a confidence thing. When one goes in, guys gain confidence ... when they get confident, they’re tough to stop.”
SANDIN IN: Rasmus Sandin was on the ice for Sweden’s practice Wednesday in Ostrava, easing injury concern for the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect. The 19-yearold defenceman was slashed in the arm by a Slovak player Tuesday and left the game in considerable discomfort. He has three assists and is plus-3 while logging more than 19 minutes of ice per game for the unbeaten Swedes.