Canada’s blueline is ready for World Junior title defence
By Aaron Bell
Ryan Parent knows that he is being given a rare opportunity.
The Guelph Storm captain is one of 19 Canadian Hockey League stars that are in Sweden to suit up for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships. Parent and 10 of his teammates helped Canada win the gold medal last year in Vancouver, British Columbia and he relishes the opportunity to go back for more.
"I never thought I would even have one," Parent said last week before leaving for Sweden. "It's a great opportunity. A lot of guys wish they had the chance. Hopefully I can make the best of it and just do the best I can."
The Canadian squad boasts five returning defencemen and Parent understands that it is a big reason why his team is one of the favourites to win the tournament again this year. He also knows that having a solid group of returnees doesn't guarantee success.
"A team wins this tournament, not just skilled players," Parent said. "It really depends on how well we come together. We've got a lot of returning guys and a lot of guys that have been through the tournament, unlike last year."
Parent (pictured) is joined on the Canadian blueline by fellow returnees
Marc Staal of the Sudbury Wolves, Luc Bourdon of the Moncton Wildcats, Kris Russell of the Medicine Hat Tigers and captain Kristopher Letang of the Val d'Or Foreurs. Newcomers Cody Franson of the Vancouver Giants and Karl Alzner of the Calgary Hitmen round out the defensive unit.
"We have a good combination," Hockey Canada's head scout Jim Hammett told the Calgary Herald. "We have a couple of guys who are very good stay-at-home defencemen but a couple of other guys who are more than capable of initiating the rush offensively and jumping in on the play."
Parent says that the diversity of skills on the Canadian blueline will be an important part of their success.
"I think the biggest part is just making sure that guys know their role," Parent said. "Everyone was brought here for different reasons because they can bring something else to the table. For Marc (Staal) and me, it's purely defence, but some of the guys are scorers and as long as they do that, it will give us the best chance. If they're not and they try to do too much, it kind of hurts them a little bit."
The blueline will also provide leadership. Letang was named captain while Staal was named of the alternates. Four of Canada's blueliners are captains of their CHL clubs.
"It's a great honour for me," said Letang. "But every guy on this team is their own captain on their home team so I think they are good leaders."
Part of Canada's challenge of winning its third straight gold medal will be the adjustment to the European rink size as well as the style of play. The past two gold medals came on North American soil and the team hasn't won a gold medal overseas since 1997. The changes to the standard of enforcement that came into the NHL and CHL last season will certainly help with the adjustment, but Staal said that the biggest difference will be not having the fan support in the arena.
When Canada won the gold medal in Grand Forks, ND two years ago, a huge crowd of Canadians drove down from Manitoba and treated their players to a home crowd despite being in the U.S.A. Last year, the fans in British Columbia voraciously supported the squad. This year, the team will have to look inside their own dressing room for motivation.
"It's definitely going to be a challenge," Staal said. "With the big ice, and obviously all the screaming fans aren't behind you, but I think the emotion level will still be really high. Everybody is watching back home and we'll be just trying to win that gold medal -- that's a big motivator in itself."
