It was a year ago when the only gift on Denton Mateychuk’s Christmas wish list never came.
The Dominion City product was enjoying a stellar campaign on the blue line with the Moose Jaw Warriors in the Western Hockey League and looked primed to represent Canada at the U20 World Junior Championships on home soil. But when it was announced who would don the Maple Leaf at the annual holiday tournament, Mateychuk’s name wasn’t on the list.
Mateychuk wouldn’t be denied this time around. Earlier this month, Mateychuk, along with Straithclair product Conor Geekie, were told they’d be among the 23 players to wear the Red and White at the 2024 World Junior Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5.
Canada, the two-time reigning champions, opens its tournament against Finland on Boxing Day .
“It’s obviously an awesome honour to be on this team and it’s always awesome to put on the maple leaf,” said Mateychuk, who represented Canada at the U18 World Junior Championships in 2020. “I think it started last year, not making the team, and it kind of sets you back a little bit, because you want to be able to represent your country.
“I just used it as motivation and then you get into the summer and it helps with the training and everything and I’ve been playing my best hockey so I think that’s all the reasons that went into making this team.”
Mateychuk, the first-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2022, is on pace for a career year with Moose Jaw, tallying six goals and 29 assists in 24 contests. His 35 points are the fourth-most among defenceman in the league, despite missing the first 10 games while at Blue Jackets’ training camp.
“I’ve felt good on the ice,” he said. “I had a good (training) camp in Columbus and then come back to Moose Jaw and bring back those pro habits that you see every day there and use that in the WHL and I think I’ve done a pretty good job of that and it’s shown on the ice, I think.”
Indeed, the 19-year-old is carrying himself with a different swagger than the one who came up short a year ago, and Warriors head coach Mark O’Leary has taken notice of his captain.
“The big thing is his patience with not forcing things that are not there. What I mean by that is in early parts when he started, it was all offence all the time,” O’Leary said.
“Now he’s learned to trust his ability to check it, to let the plays develop, be sound defensively, and when he does that he’s able to be in possession and pick his spots to create offence.”
The Warriors (18-14-0-2) are third in the Eastern Conference at the holiday reprieve. The club will be without Mateychuk for a handful of contests out of the break, but O’Leary will manage as they cheer on their fearless leader from 6,700 kilometres away.
“Just being able to watch how far Denton’s come as a young 15 year old when he first started playing games with us— how hard he’s worked to develop into the player he is now, whether that’s the off-ice work that he’s done, the attention that he puts to detail, the video work, just working on his skating,” O’Leary said.
“He’s our captain for a reason. He does everything like a professional and to see a guy like that be rewarded with this opportunity is very special.”
Mateychuk’s priority is defending Canada’s title for a second time, but he would be remised to not soak up the number of learning opportunities that await in the international competition. Perhaps another gift this holiday season came in the form of former NHL defenceman Brent Seabrook, who is a part of this year’s management team.
Mateychuk said he’s already getting tips from the three-time Stanley Cup champion and Olympic gold medallist, and that he’s sure more are to come.
“I’m sure there’s gonna be lots of those moments,” Mateychuk said. “I’m not too sure exactly what it’ll be but I’m know I’m going to learn a lot though the next couple of weeks.
“I think there will definitely be some nerves but that’s why you play the game,” he continued. “It’s for these moments that are to come and I’m just really excited right now about it.”
Canada begins its title defence with two pre-tournament games on Dec. 19 against a U-25 team from Denmark and then tests against fellow WJHC participants Switzerland and United States on Dec. 22 and 23. Canada’s tournament schedule begins on Boxing Day in a game against Finland at 7:30 a.m. central. All games can be viewed live on TSN.
By Voice staff
