Junior Team Canada refines its preparation with the Petawawa military

Canada hopes that a stay of a few days in Petawawa, in Renfrew County in Ontario, will strengthen the bonds between its 25 players about a week before the start of the world junior hockey championships.

Between on-ice training sessions and meetings, the young athletes participated in various activities to build team spirit. In particular, they were subjected to a battlefield simulation on the military base located on the limits of the city of 18,000 residents.

No one could stop and sit down. We were subjected to pressure situationsunderlined the attacker Berkley CattonMonday, after leaving the ice rink Silvert Dart de Petawawa.

Players were notably given firearms at one point. But not with real bulletsspecified his Acadian teammate Bradly Nadeau.

It was something different where communication is very important. It was good for learning to communicate.

This is not the first time that Team Canada has adopted such a strategy to strengthen ties between its players in preparation for the tournament played annually over ten days. The head coach Dave Cameronwho guided Canada to gold in 2022, liked what he observed from his team over the past two days while rubbing shoulders with members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

There is no one who personifies teamwork more than the military. Talking to them yesterday, they told us that losing is not an option for them. This is the mentality we must adopt.

The arrival of Nadeau

Cameron had another reason to smile. He was finally able to count on all his players in training on Monday.

First choice of Hurricanes of the Caroline, Bradly Nadeau participated in a first session on ice. He was paired with Callum Ritchie et Easton Cowan on the first trio.

The 19-year-old hockey player was able to rejoin the team on Sunday after playing one last American Hockey League game on Saturday in Texas. He scored a goal and added an assist in a 4-3 win for the Wolves from Chicago.

Team Canada will be counting on him to power its attack during the tournament.

He’s good at a little bit of everythingsaid Berkley Catton. He has an elite shot and elite skating.

Dave Cameron shares this opinion.

We loved everything about him during our summer camp. He will be an important part of our clubhe stressed.

Find winning combinations

The coach plans to use this week to find the best possible offensive and defensive combinations. He also wants to discover the personality of the players to find different ways to motivate them and get the best two.

All clubs are in the same boat in terms of talent. Whoever plays the best will win the tournament.said Cameron, whose team will be in Petawawa for two more days.

The Canadian team will then head to Ottawa, site of the world junior hockey championships which will begin on December 26. She will play her first exhibition match this Thursday at the TD Place arena against Switzerland.

Canada will also face Sweden and the Czech Republic in preparation.

With information from Jonathan Job’s