Dubois takes the heat off himself
Team Canada hopeful focused on having fun
Pierre-Luc Dubois wasn’t necessarily offering advice for any players trying out for the Canadian junior team in years to come, but his words could be taken that way.
Dubois was among the first cuts last year at Canada’s selection camp and has changed his approach this winter.
“Mentally this year, I am really ready and I know what to expect,” Dubois said.
“When I go on the ice, I try to have fun. Last year, I went on the ice and tried not to make mistakes. That’s the big difference.”
Team Canada head coach Dominique Ducharme and his staff would love to see Dubois take the bull by the horns and do some damage on offence. Dubois hasn’t set the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on fire this season, recording six goals and 12 assists in 20 games for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. Earlier this week, Dubois was traded to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.
One might expect that Dubois, drafted third overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in June, is feeling the pressure to produce in this camp. Dubois had one assist in Canada’s 3-0 win Tuesday against U Sports, a team of university all-stars, and is capable of more. Last season, the six-foot-three, 202-pound centre racked up 99 points in 62 games for Cape Breton.
But Dubois isn’t putting extra heat on his own shoulders.
“I want to make the team first and after that, whether it’s top minutes or bottom minutes, I just want to help the team win,” Dubois said. “I don’t really put any pressure on myself to play a certain way.”
Ducharme said he was pleased with Canada’s effort on Tuesday as the team outshot U Sports 27-15.
“I like the way our guys played,” Ducharme said. “I thought individually, guys brought their best. And collectively I liked the way we improved from (Monday) night’s game.”
POINT SHOTS
With only an exhibition game Wednesday night against the Czech Republic left on the selection camp schedule, which players are on the bubble? In goal, one of Connor Ingram or Michael McNiven, who will split the netminding against the Czechs, will be cut. On the blue-line, two cuts must be made from the nine defencemen remaining. Figure on the two coming from a group that includes Guillaume Brisebois, Kale Clague, Dante Fabbro, Samuel Girard and Jeremy Lauzon. At forward, two cuts also must be made. Those on the hot seat could include Anthony Cirelli, Dillon Dube, Michael McLeod and Zach Senyshyn ... Among the four cut on Tuesday, defenceman Victor Mete and forward Brett Howden are eligible to play at the 2018 tournament in Buffalo, N.Y. But forwards Nick Merkley, who also was cut last year, and Austin Wagner won’t be back. “It’s tough,” said Merkley, an Arizona Coyotes prospect. “My second kick at the can and I came up short. Hopefully, I can learn from this.”