Canada's juniors just itching to get some game action
Their job is to select and prepare a national team for one of the most significant and celebrated events on the Canadian sports landscape.
With their hands tied behind their back.
It's been one challenge after another for the Canadian world junior coaching staff, who are a month into their training camp and less than a week from their tournament opener and still haven't played an exhibition game.
It also doesn't help that they've had more quarantine days than practice days.
But nobody is going to complain about it.
“We would be the biggest hypocrites in the world if we didn't worry about what we could control,” said assistant coach Michael Dyck. “That's what we're asking of the players and it's what we have to do as a staff. What's in our control is our level of preparation, work ethic and intensity. That goes not only for the players, but the coaching staff as well.
“The next challenge is not being able to play on Monday, which we were all looking forward to. Our practices have been great, but nothing can replace a game.”
Monday against Sweden was supposed to be Team Canada's coming out party, an opportunity to finally get on the ice and play somebody else. After seeing all of their exhibition games against U Sports teams wiped off the schedule because COVID made its way into the Canadian locker-room, it was a game they'd been waiting for weeks.
Heck, the OHL and WHL players have been waiting eight months to play a game. But once again, they've been told to stand down while Sweden waits out an additional quarantine.
“We're going to have a really good practice, develop some chemistry off the ice and ramp things up for the 23rd and the Russians,” Dyck said of their one and only pre-tournament game, which is still on the schedule. “Knowing that we're going to play on the 23rd really helps.”
The players can only roll their eyes and hope things get better as the tournament draws nearer.
“Obviously, it's difficult times, a little weirder than usual,” said returning veteran Connor McMichael. “We were looking forward to playing a game. But we knew there would be difficulties coming into this. You just have to deal with what's put in front of you.
“We're just focusing on Wednesday now. You just want to get back to playing games. We've been off for so long, eight months or so.”
Between practices, videos and scrimmage games, they still got a lot done, which Dyck says is a credit to the narrowed focus of the players. It would be easy for their minds to drift and intensity to fade in a situation like this, but he sees nothing but a determination to overcome it all.
“That's one of the things we've been impressed with the most,” he said. “The level of focus and detail and the fact that guys haven't been rattled by the number of adjustments we've had to make since we started this journey. I really like the way the guys have handled the instability. I'm looking forward to moving forward with this group.”
Asked if this even feels like the world juniors yet, with no games, no fans and 19 days in quarantine, McMichael said it will when the time comes.
“I feel like once we get games going it won't make a difference,”
he said. “Any time you can represent your country it's a great honour and I know all the guys are excited. We're just all looking forward to the tournament.”
CAPTAIN PHILIP
Oilers draft pick Philip Broberg (eighth overall in 2019) showed enough leadership to go along with his many talents that the Swedes have named him their captain. He says his time with the Oilers in the NHL playoff bubble helped him elevate his habits.
“The game I played against Calgary (pre-tournament) really helped me. It was really special to be able to compete against other NHL level players and see how big a difference it is.”