Juulsen's mettle tested with role of cheerleader
Seventh defenceman has to stay sharp and be ready to suit up when called upon
Noah Juulsen had two itches to scratch.
The first was a traditional playoff beard that left the Vancouver Canucks defenceman scratching until the growth softened. The other is the one that never goes away.
The itch to play any NHL game is what drives the Surrey native and Abbotsford-raised hockey product. Especially at this time of year. Especially with the Lower Mainland in a frenzy and Juulsen knowing what it means for the fan base and the Canucks to be back in the hunt.
“It's awesome,” Juulsen said Friday. “It brings back childhood memories of being in school and everybody having their jerseys on and everybody talking about the game. It was one of those special moments when I came out to U2 and played my first NHL playoff game (April 23).
“This is the s--t you dream about.”
Juulsen, 27, is the seventh defenceman on a back end that is bigger and better and more equipped to box out and move pucks quickly. He got the home-ice call in Game 2 against the Nashville Predators before family and friends with Tyler Myers sidelined by the flu.
Juulsen was paired with Carson Soucy during the 4-1 setback.
“The pace was a lot faster and the atmosphere was a lot bigger and the physicality was ramped up,” said Juulsen. “It was about not changing my game and I like the physical part to bring something to the team.
“It was just a cool moment, very special for sure.”
For Juulsen, matching strides and hits against the Predators was a feather in his competitive cap. He had five hits that night and didn't look out of place.
In 54 regular-season games, his timing of hits improved and he made quicker and more accurate zone exit passes. The six-foot-two, 201-pound blueliner was fourth in team hits with 163, but now he's no different than teammates Mark Friedman and Nils Aman.
They practise hard and train in hopes of playing against the Edmonton Oilers or at some point in the post-season. It's not easy, but hasn't gone unnoticed.
“Noah is huge and could definitely be a starter,” said Canucks' head coach Rick Tocchet. “He's a real viable option and it's not a downgrade when he goes in the lineup.”
Still, playing cheerleader is a lot different than playing. It requires mental resolve to understand it takes everybody at this time of year — more than just six defencemen and 12 forwards — to slog through the grind and avoid injuries or indifferent play.
“Whether you're playing or not playing, there is a role,” stressed Juulsen. “For us in the room, it's helping the guys and being ready for an opportunity.”
It can be difficult when a player has a rough night. Veteran Ian Cole struggled in Game 1 on Wednesday, but the two-time Stanley Cup champion has the pedigree and the poise to rebound. Juulsen knows that and it's all part of process.
For any player, it's about being a solution and not a problem. Everybody is supposed to pull on the same rope and individual agendas are a dangerous game to even think of playing.
“You want everybody to play their best game and hopefully clinch the series at some point,” said Juulsen.
“That's the beauty of hockey. You always have another game and guys who have had long careers know how to bounce back.”
The local chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association named Juulsen the Canucks' representative this season for the Bill Masterton Trophy. It's emblematic of the player who best embodied the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication. And like teammates Dakota Joshua and Conor Garland, Juulsen would warrant a podium position as unsung hero.
“I've had a few bumps on the road here and there, but to play the way I did this year and get the Masterton nomination was special for me,” he said.
Juulsen is being modest about those bumps as a 2015 first-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens.
He suffered a career-threatening injury on Nov. 19, 2018 after being struck twice in the face by a puck in the first period against the Washington Capitals. He developed vision-related problems and appeared in just 21 NHL games that season.
“It kind of exploded my face and shattered my bones and I had vision issues for about a year,” said Juulsen. “There were times when I wasn't sure what was going to happen, if I was going to play again and what was going on.”
Juulsen's career took a turn when claimed off waivers by the Florida Panthers in January of 2021. But he played just four games and was dealt to the Canucks the following October. It brought Juulsen to a better place.
He has another year left on his contract and learning from Canucks assistant coach Adam Foote will keep his game NHL ready.
“I had a good season, but I'm not even thinking about that,” said Juulsen. “It's what we're trying to do here as a group and go far in the playoffs and bring something to the city.”