MINNEAPOLIS | When Caleb Desnoyer started the World Junior Championships in 13th placee A striker, he knew very well deep down that he would eventually play an important role for Team Canada. So far he has won his bet.
“I knew that when the doors opened and it was time for me to show what I had, the demon inside would come out,” said the Moncton Wildcats center, Utah's No. 4 overall pick in the last draft.
Denoyer's track record with the national team, after all, speaks for itself: gold at the World Under-17 Challenge in 2023, gold at the World Under-18 Championship, gold at the Hlinka-Gretzky tournament. Every time he represented his country, he won everything. That's not counting his performances in the QMJHL playoffs last year, which culminated in him winning the Gilles-Courtaud Trophy.
“I know that in my age group I am one of the most experienced young players in the world,” said the main player.
The above facts prove him right.
It took a match
In fact, he only needed one match to climb up head coach Dale Hunter's pecking order at this World Junior Championship.
Against the Czech Republic, he was so effective from the start in each of his 14 matches that he forced the manager to include him in the starting trio.
So Hunter made the pivotal decision by pairing Denoyer, Cole Beaudoin and Sam O'Reilly. Since then, the three teammates have formed the blue-collar trio of the Canadian junior team. Hunter systematically sends them into battle before the start of each period.
“From the first presence [mercredi, contre la Slovaquie]“We really set the tone and gave the team some momentum,” Denoyer said after his team's extra practice on Thursday. We take great pride in the details of our game.”
“It’s a heavy trio that allows us to forecheck,” Hunter explained.
A constant forecheck, forcing the opposing team to expend its strength, became the calling card of this trio, which also distinguished itself in the attack against the Finns with Beaudoin’s double.
“We had our chances from the start,” Denoyer said. Our offense doesn't always hit the target and we miss opportunities, but [mercredi]we were rewarded.”
Perfectionist
However, Denoyer is a little worried that he hasn't been more opportunistic.
“First of all, personally, I'm not proud of the decisions I made. When to shoot, when to pass the puck,” he explained.
It's his perfectionist side that comes out.
“I sound like it’s dramatic, but everything is going very well,” said the young man from Saint-Hyacinthe. I'm still a perfectionist.”
The good news for Denoyer is that one-on-one matches are coming. And he loves these matches.
“This is really my type of game. I'm excited.”
