Petes goalie off to national junior camp
Hunter Jones is one of four netminders competing for three spots on the Team Canada roster
Hunter Jones did not mind getting woken up Sunday morning by Canada’s national junior team general manager Mark Hunter.
Arriving home early Sunday morning after backstopping the Peterborough Petes to a 3-1 road win over the Erie Otters on Saturday night, Jones was awoken when his phone rang. Hunter was calling to invite Jones to Canada’s National Junior Team Sport Chek Selection Camp Dec. 9-12 In Oakville. Hockey Canada announced the 31-player roster Monday afternoon. Jones is one of four goalies who will vie for three roster spots.
“My phone went off and I was pretty tired and I said ‘Hello’ and it was Mark Hunter from Hockey Canada,” said Jones. “He congratulated me on the win the night before and said if I’d like to come, I’m more than welcome to come.”
It was not something Jones had to give any thought to before accepting the invitation.
“It’s surreal,” said Jones. “Before the world junior showcase, I hadn’t worn the Maple Leaf on my chest since I was 16. It was a pretty cool moment for me in the summertime. Obviously, every time you get the opportunity to put that jersey on and represent your country it’s definitely something else. I’m just a kid from Brantford who likes playing the sport. To be fortunate to be where I am in my career — to be in the OHL and drafted to the NHL — all this extra stuff is awesome. I have a lot of people to thank for where I have gotten to. I’m going to try to make the most of it and make every day count.”
The Minnesota Wild secondround draft pick is having an outstanding season, leading all OHL goalies with 17 wins, ranks second in save percentage at .914 and third in goals-againstaverage at 2.63.
“I had a pretty good idea I was going to get the call,” said Jones. “Being where I’m at this season with the Peterborough Petes and given my performance at the world junior showcase in the summertime and again at the Canada-Russia Series game, I felt pretty good. I didn’t really expect anything else. I’m very privileged and honoured to be able to go.”
Jones is one of two OHL goalies, invited along with the Guelph Storm’s Nico Daws. He’ll also be competing against Olivier Rodrigue of the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats and Joel Hofer of the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks.
TSN analyst Bob McKenzie pegged Rodrigue as the favourite to be the No. 1 goalie with the other three battling for two spots.
The 2020 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships will be held in the Czech Republic starting on Dec. 26.
“They are going to go with the guy who is playing well,” said Jones. “It’s a short-term competition and they’re going to be looking for the person who is hot and playing well. At the end of the day, they just want to win a gold medal. I’ve played with Rodrigue a bunch of times. We were on the same team at the showcase and were dynamite together. He’s a good goaltender. Every goalie going there is a good goaltender and we’re all capable of having that No. 1 spot.”
Peterborough native Barrett Hayton played for Canada last year and is eligible to return. He is currently playing with the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes and Hockey Canada officials do not expect him to be made available at this stage.
Petes defenceman Declan Chisholm, who participated in the summer showcase, and exPete Ryan Merkley, who played in the CIBC Canada-Russia Series, were not among the players invited.