It is the most wonderful time of the year.
And no I am not talking about Christmas time, I am talking about World Junior time.
There is nothing better than sitting down on the couch with friends and family and watching future NHLers play for their country and hopefully win the gold medal.
This year’s tournament is even more exciting as it is in Toronto and Montreal, two great NHL facilities.
It also means the tournament is in Canada and when the tournament is in Canada the Canadians seem to have a much greater chance of winning the gold medal, likely because they are more used to the smaller ice surfaces than players from the European countries.
While this year’s team is short on star power since a number of eligible players are already in the NHL, including Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Toronto’s Mitch Marner, they do still possess a team of skilled players including 2015 third overall pick Dylan Strome and 2016 third overall pick Pierre-Luc Dubois.
This year’s team also has some local talent as Imperial’s Connor Ingram was one of two goalies named to the team.
Ingram was drafted in the third round of the 2016 draft by Tampa Bay and currently plays in the WHL with the Kamloops Blazers.
Before landing with the Blazers, Ingram spent a year playing for the Prince Albert Mintos, where he won a Telus Cup with current Bronco Josh Roberts, as well as former Bronco Matthew Parsons, and the year prior to that he spent the season manning the crease at the Elgar Peterson Arena as a member of the Midget AA Broncos, playing with current Broncos defenseman Tyler Leier.
So while there are not many players on the roster who jump off the page at you saying I have to watch to see this guy play, there is some local flair. For many Ingram will be the guy jumping off the page as a guy to watch.
So pull up a chair or grab a seat on the couch and tune in this Christmas to cheer on these teenagers as they look to reclaim the World Junior Championship gold medal.
Family, friends, hockey and a possible gold medal, which could come so close to Humboldt.
What could possibly be better?
It is the most wonderful time of year after all.
