Todd: Michael Hage overlooked by Team Canada, but not by Canadiens

Hockey Canada could have dodged one when our junior group suffered a beatdown by the hands of the Czechs within the semifinals.

If Canada had gained, the knuckle-draggers on this nation may level to Dale Hunter and his workers and say, “See! Ya gotta be robust! We taught these you’re-a-peein’ fellas a lesson!”

As an alternative, Canada was taught the lesson, which didn’t forestall Hunter and his workers from delivering one final blow to the sport by refusing to vote for Habs draft decide Michael Hage as one of many high three Canadian gamers, though the College of Michigan centre led all the event in scoring.

Even Jeff O’Neill of TSN, who has come a good distance from the times when he was an out-and-out Leafs cheerleader, questioned the vote. “I do not know how he wasn’t named one of many high forwards for Staff Canada. He’s been the very best participant within the event. He’s unreal.”

Hockey blogger J.T. (Gander, N.L.-based journalist Leigh Anne Energy) has an concept. “Regardless of the factors and the reward,” she wrote, “Hage missed out in favour of teammates Tij Iginla, Zayne Parekh and Sam O’Reilly. … The choice appeared odd, contemplating Iginla and O’Reilly had solely eight factors every, whereas Parekh had 13 as a defenceman.

“One of the vital apparent variations between the three gamers chosen and Hage is that all of them play main junior hockey in Canada, whereas Hage opted to play college hockey within the NCAA as a substitute.”

Outdated myths die exhausting and the parable that junior hockey is the one and solely path to the NHL is tough to eradicate. It’s been 15 years since a French-language broadcaster identified to me that fewer than two per cent of gamers within the QMJHL on the time had been getting a lot as a cup of espresso within the NHL — and but the assumption persists that it’s the one manner.

In the meantime, if Hunter and his buddies took the difficulty, they may discover that some faculty boys are doing alright within the massive time at the moment — amongst them Lane Hutson, Cole Caufield, Jacob Fowler and a dude who performs out west named Macklin Celebrini.

Add Hage, yet one more electrifying participant on his option to the CH.

The world is altering. New NCAA guidelines for NIL (Identify, Picture and Likeness) contracts have turned NCAA soccer right into a high-stakes professional league the place quarterbacks and different star gamers are on multimillion-dollar offers. Faculty hockey just isn’t in the identical league, however gamers can do higher than they do in junior hockey and get an training on the identical time, fairly than deferring it to some unnamed future date once they’re by way of with the juniors and eventually understand they may by no means make the NHL.

Given the backward method to the game on this nation, we’re lucky that underneath new administration at Hockey Canada, enrolment in minor hockey is on the upswing after years of abrasion, however on this facet of the NHL, the world junior event is arguably the only greatest affect on younger gamers. That’s the reason the coaches and managers behind Staff Canada must get their heads out of 1965 and construct for the longer term.

Hage didn’t want the votes of Hunter and his workers. Defenceman Bryce Pickford, the 81st decide within the 2025 NHL draft who leads all of junior hockey in goal-scoring, doesn’t want the invitation to camp that Staff Canada by no means issued. However the remedy of Hage, Pickford and others won’t go unnoticed by gamers attempting to resolve between the NCAA and junior hockey.

If the selection is there, fellas, if in case you have the scholarship supply — take it. When you’re meant to be within the NHL, you’ll make it. The overwhelming majority of you’ll nonetheless have to purchase a ticket to get into an NHL area, however should you go to college, you’ll a minimum of come away with an training.

Give the Sheriff his star:

The sport Saturday was ugly. The consequence was ugly, a 4-0 Canadiens loss to the Unique Six rival Detroit Purple Wings.

Nevertheless it was the clearest indication but that the massive man they name the Sheriff, or Scrabble, or that Massive Son-of-a-Gun, has arrived. In reality, it’s been increasingly more evident in the course of the previous month. Arber Xhekaj is an intimidating drive on the market, a tricky man who can play greater than just a little shinny.

As Xhekaj has outdistanced Jayden Struble for a task on the third defensive pair, he has reached a degree the place you hope he doesn’t must combat as a result of he’s wanted on the ice. He makes good choices, he retains up with the play and he eats up a variety of territory.

And when wanted, effectively — the scene the place Xhekaj is in the midst of a scrum holding one opponent underneath every brawny arm says all of it.

Heroes:

Arber Xhekaj, Alexandre Texier, Oliver Kapanen, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov, Glenn Corridor, Macclesfield, Mikaël Kingsbury, Nicole Gosling &&&& final however not least, Martin St. Louis.

Zeros:

Dale Hunter, Invoice Guerin, Lane Kiffin, Kawhi Leonard, Tom Brady, Tony Romo, Wayne Gretzky, Bud Selig Jr., David Samson &&&& final however not least, Jeffrey Loria.

Now and ceaselessly.

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