Bouwmeester vet of the late show
An add-on for World Cup team in 2004, veteran blueliner a replacement again
OTTAWA— Jay Bouwmeester is a late addition to Canada’s World Cup team again, but he doesn’t mind.
Bouwmeester, Corey Perry and Logan Couture were all tacked on to Canada’s World Cup roster after the team’s initial announcement, but when it comes to representing Canada a late invitation is better than none.
The 32-year-old Bouwmeester was also a late invite for the 2004 World Cup, replacing the injured Chris Pronger and appearing in four games.
“This is pretty different considering I was 20 years old for that one and was walking into a room with Mario Lemieux and Joe Sakic and I was just a kid,” the 13-year NHL veteran said. “It was cool to be around all those guys, but me and Scott Hannan were kind of the seventh and eighth defencemen . . .
“A couple more guys got hurt and I ended up getting to play. The whole experience was great.”
This time around Bouwmeester is the veteran guy in the room. At 32, he is the second-oldest player on the roster, with 37-year-old Joe Thornton holding the honour of being the oldest. Thornton is the only other player who represented Canada in the 2004 World Cup.
Bouwmeester and Couture echoed the sentiments of Perry when he said that it was an honour just to pull on a Canadian sweater.
“I’m here, that’s all that matters,” said Perry on Monday.
Despite the late invitation, Bouwmeester felt he was prepared for camp and was satisfied with his performance following Canada’s 5-2 win over the United States on Saturday night where he had one goal through 15:51 of ice time.
Working in Bouwmeester’s favour is his familiarity with head coach Mike Babcock through previous international tournaments. The St. Louis Blues defenceman was a member of the 2014 Olympic gold-medal winning team and 2004 world championship gold medal team, both coached by Babcock.
“I’ve had Bo lots, he’s a real good player, covers a ton of ice, got real good hockey sense,” Babcock said. “There’s something about Bo on a national team — he never is worried about doing anything except being Bo and he kind of likes that and he’s good at it. I think he’s a real good player. “
Perry’s omission from the initial roster was something as a surprise seeing as he was a member of the past two Olympic gold-medal winning teams and was having a good season with the Anaheim Ducks, but he says the disappointment is well behind him and is now focused on doing whatever he can for this team.
“Anytime you get to put on the Canadian flag for your country, you accept the honour,” Perry said. “You look around the room and all the great players on this team. There’s a lot of superstars in here and it’s good to be a part of it and we’re looking forward to getting going.”
Neither Perry nor Bouwmeester were in the lineup for the first exhibition game against the U.S., but both made significant contributions in the second game.
Perry had two assists and was on the power play and all indications from Monday’s practice appear he will remain on the first power-play unit.
“I think you have to prove yourself each and every day that you’re on the ice,” Perry said. “I don’t think it’s a matter of one game, I think it’s a matter of every day you getting better and you’ve got to earn your spot because it’s not going to be given to you.”
Of the three there is no denying the significance of the invitation for Couture.
Never selected to represent Canada for the world juniors, he’s been anxious for an opportunity to represent his country.
This past season Couture, 27, established himself as one of the NHL’s best two-way forwards while playing an integral role in leading the San Jose Sharks to their first Stanley Cup final appearance.
Couture had been told he was on Canada’s short list and kept the thought in the back of his mind during his off-season training and couldn’t have been happier when he got the call and now plans to make the most of the opportunity.
Canada wraps up pre-tournament play Wednesday night against Russia in Pittsburgh. Babcock said he would wait until Tuesday to announce his starting goaltender.