By Canadian Press

Speers wrist looks fine as Canadian juniors blank U Sports selects 3-0

Dec 13, 2016 | 12:30 PM

BOISBRIAND, Que. — Blake Speers was anxious heading into camp over whether the wrist he broke in October would hold up enough for him to make Canada’s team for the world junior championship.

All went well as Speers helped set up a goal and the juniors downed the U Sports all-stars 3-0 on Tuesday afternoon, less than 24 hours after beating the national student selects 5-3 at the Centre d’Excellence Sports Rousseau.

Speers, captain of his home town Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, only played in the second game but saw a lot of action on a line with Mathieu Joseph and centre Nicolas Roy.

“It felt about as good as I could have hoped,” Speers said. “I got some good shots in during warmups and got some confidence from it and then it was nice to get into a game, finally.

“I could call it about 100 per cent. It’s at the point where all I have to do is strengthen it back to normal. That’s going to take some time, reinjuring it is not an issue.”

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He hopes it’s enough to make the team that will play at the world juniors Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Toronto and Montreal.

The four cuts were made after the game. Defenceman Victor Mete of the London Knights and forwards Nick Merkley of the Kelowna Rockets, Brett Howden of the Moose Jaw Warriors and Austin Wagner of the Regina Pats were returned to their teams.

Coach Dominique Ducharme said camp, whic started with 31 players, will likely be trimmed to the final 22 either Tuesday night or on Wednesday.

The junior team concludes its four-day selection camp with a game Wednesday night against the Czech Republic.

Ducharme didn’t say if Speers would make it, but he spoke enthusiastically about the six-foot 185-pound right winger.

“I don’t know if he was 100 per cent but he looked pretty good for a guy that’s coming back from an injury,” said Ducharme. “It was good to see him on the ice because it was the first time for me.

“He wasn’t at the Super Series (against Russian juniors) and he wasn’t there at (the Team Canada development camp) in the summer so I wanted to see him.”

Speers, drafted 67th overall by New Jersey in 2015, played three games for the Devils this season. On his first game back with the Greyhounds on Oct. 27, he broke a bone in his wrist.

He hadn’t played before suiting up against U Sports, but he hopes his performance was good enough to impress the Team Canada brass.

“I was a little bit worried, but I knew I was going to put everything I had into getting it ready and making sure the range of motion and strength was as good as it could be coming in,” he said. “I’m really happy where I got it so far and it’s just going to get better.

“Today was definitely my best day, shooting-wise.”

Roy, defenceman Mete and Howden scored for Canada, which outshot U Sports 27-15.

With both teams playing a second game in less than 24 hours, neither side looked sharp. But the juniors’ edge in speed and skill, as well as seven power play opportunities, eventually prevailed.

To give all three of Canada’s goalies playing time, Canada’s Michael McNiven played the entire game for U Sports, while Carter Hart and Connor Ingram split time in the Canada net.

“It’s a better opportunity to start and play a full game,” said McNiven. “I tried to use it to my advantage and give U Sports a chance to win.”

He said the U Sports players talked about the speed and skill level of the juniors, but U Sports handled it well. They came to play. It felt kind of like I was playing on my own team back home (the Owen Sound Attack) against the London Knights or the Erie Otters, so I used that to my advantage. I try to give my team a chance to win every game.”

Hart, who looks to be leading the battle for the top goalie’s job, started and faced only four shots through 30 minutes before ceding the net to Ingram, who faced 11 shots. 

Hart has stopped all 14 shots he has faced playing the first half of two straight games. He handled only two shots in the first period Tuesday, but had to be sharp as UNB’s Philippe Maillet stole a puck, went in alone and tried to score between the pads.

Mete got the only goal of the first frame when he took a saw his shot from 10 feet out barely made it through traffic and trickle in off the post at 7:35.

It took Canada nearly half of the second period before Dillon Dube got the team’s first shot, but they doubled their lead at 13:50 when Speers sent Mathieu Joseph in the right side. His shot was stopped by McNiven, but Roy followed in to score on the rebound.

Howden scored on a power play at 18:05 as he tipped a wrist shot from the point by Kale Clague.  

Those who did not get into the game on Monday night all played Tuesday.

Canada’s scratches included the returning players from last year’s team — Dylan Strome, Ryan Barzal, Thomas Chabot, Julien Gauthier and Mitchell Stephens.

Canada leads U Sports 14-6 all-time in selection camp exhibition games.

Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press

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