We tend to forget it, but Michael Hage is a Canadian national even though he played his junior in the USHL. The Montreal Canadiens’ 21st pick in the 2024 draft has opted to join the American junior league so as not to lose his eligibility to play for Michigan in the NCAA. A way of doing things that is no longer relevant with the new NCAA-CHL agreement!
Recently on TSLH, my colleague Simon Derome presented his own predictions regarding the formation of Junior Team Canada. The absence of Michael Hage surprised me somewhat, but his explanation remains valid. We are talking about a player who was 18 years old at the time of the tournament and who did not grow up in Hockey Canada circles. It is true that the Junior Team Canada organization often favors players from their own program. Young people who grew up in the U17 and U18 teams. Who participated in the Hlinka tournament.
For Michael Hage, his candidacy rests on one thing: his talent. He has not been in the spotlight of Team Canada’s elite and this is what he recently explained to Marco D’Amico on behalf of RG.org.
“I wasn’t invited to that (ECJ summer camp this summer). I was ready, but I never received a call from Hockey Canada. I understand the circumstances (of having played his junior in the United States) and I control what I can control. My goal is to develop as a player and help Michigan win a championship. If it comes at the expense of representing my country, I will accept it.
When we look at the forces present at the Junior Team Canada camp, the chairs for a top 6 player with great offensive qualities are rare. And since Michael Hage isn’t exactly the player with the profile of a rough support forward, it’s almost unlikely that we’ll see him on Team Canada this year. He will be 19 for next year’s edition, so his chances may be better. That said, would a Michael Hage who had developed in the CHL have had a better chance of participating? There is room for questioning. Here are the predictions of my colleague Simon in his most recent text:
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