Bulldog hopefuls ‘handled themselves well’ at U-17 camp

After a jam-packed week at Hockey Canada’s under-17 development camp in Calgary, four Hamilton Bulldogs hopefuls — Connor McMichael, Liam Van Loon, Navrin Mutter and Xavier Henry — are back at home and raving about the experience.

“It was awesome,” said Van Loon. “Great,” said McMichael. “Amazing,” said Mutter. For the three forwards and Henry, a defenceman, the tryout was their first at the national level. It was also the first for Steve Staios, the Bulldogs president and general manager who was recently tapped by Hockey Canada to oversee the program and the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

The successful candidates will be announced sometime this fall.

Staios called the seven-day camp difficult and gruelling for the players — for everyone, actually. On top of the 111 invitees, there were also 82 staff members on hand, including mental performance coaches, athletic therapists, equipment managers and others.

Mutter agreed, calling it “exhausting.” McMichael, too, was gassed.

With twice-a-day practices, onand off-ice testing, scrimmages and seminars, “it was really tiring,” the 16-year-old said. It was also totally worth it. “Just throwing on the jersey for the first time was a great honour,” he added.

The Bulldogs were among six CHL teams with four prospects at the camp — the most from coast to coast. It’s also the most invites they’ve scored since moving to Hamilton from Belleville at the start of the 2015-16 season.

They faced each other, with McMichael, the 11th overall pick in this year’s priority selection, on Team Gold, Van Loon on Team Black, Mutter on Team White and Henry on Team Green. The latter, a big blueliner from Toronto, made a splash with two goals against McMichael’s squad, while Mutter had a goal and two assists in three outings.

“They performed and, more importantly, they handled themselves well,” said Staios.

“It was a real positive week for them.”

After flying home Saturday, McMichael and the others — all early-round draft picks — have shifted their focus to training camp in Hamilton, where they’ll have their work cut out for them.

On top of contending with as many as 21 returnees for a spot on the roster, they’ll also have to outwork a handful of bigger, older and more experienced players the Bulldogs selected at the OHL’s inaugural under-18 draft in April.

Staios said the tryout will be bigger this year than it has it the past, with players split into three teams rather than two.

Players are expected to report to Hamilton Aug. 27, with training camp officially getting underway Aug. 28.

The World Under-17 Hockey Challenge takes place in Dawson and Fort St. John, B.C., in early November.