‘ You want to be expected to win’
If anyone is still wondering why the world junior hockey championship has become such a treasured part of Canadian culture, it’s because they haven’t watched it. Everyone else knows. Seriously, it’s a cross between Christmas and hockey, with a bunch of yet unspoiled teenagers sacrificing themselves to defend our honour in the national game — of course, it’s been capturing Canadian hearts and minds for decades.
“You start watching it with your friends and family as soon as you get into hockey,” said Team Canada defenceman Kaiden Guhle. “It’s something the whole country gets together for. That’s what makes it so special, you’ve been watching it since you were a kid growing up.”
The anticipation for this year’s world junior championship in Edmonton is even greater this year when you factor in TV networks that haven’t shown hockey in three months, fans who haven’t seen a Canadian team shoot a puck in anger since the Vancouver Canucks were eliminated on Sept. 4 and a pandemic ravaged country that desperately needs something to cheer for.
This is a harmonic convergence for the ages.
It’s also a massive undertaking involving the IIHF, Hockey Canada and an Edmonton bubble that held up perfectly during the NHL playoffs.
But none of it happens if not for a bunch of kids who are willing to give up their Christmas, be locked up in individual hotel room quarantines for 19 days and pour everything they have, mentally and physically, into making Canada proud.
For them, it was worth it even before the tournament started.
“First and foremost, it’s a chance to represent your country, that’s the most important thing,” said defenceman Jamie Drysdale, who won a gold medal in last year’s tournament. “The support that you get when you’re representing your country is unbelievable — you know that everybody is rooting for you and has your back.
“It brings out the excitement and the love of the game even more when you’re on this big stage and playing for your country.”
Being picked for this tournament also lets them know they’re on the right trajectory. There is no guarantee they’ll be NHL regulars one day, but being one of the best in the world in your age group is a nice affirmation.
“When you’re a little kid you dream of one day being in this position, so finally making that happen feels like you’re on the right path to your final goal,” said Quinton Byfield, who’d like to make it back- to- back gold medals.
“Being able to see what the best in the world in your age are like, playing against them, I think is huge for player’s development.”
“You want to be expected to win,” said Byfield. “When you’re expected to win it means you’re probably the best team here and you want to deliver. It gives you more motivation. Hockey is the Canadian game. You want to pull through for your country.”