After stepping off the ice and noticing he had about five missed calls from the same number, Ollie Josephson phoned it back and heard CanadaB次元官网网址檚 under-18 menB次元官网网址檚 hockey coach Alan Letang on the other end, telling him heB次元官网网址檇 earned a spot on the national team.
B次元官网网址淚 was super excited, it was an awesome day,B次元官网网址� Josephson said.
The worldB次元官网网址檚 best from the menB次元官网网址檚 U18 side are gathered in Czechia and Slovakia as the Hlinka Gretzky Cup got underway Monday (July 31). Seven teams spanning the United States and Europe will try to dethrone Canada and Josephson hopes he can help his country repeat as gold medalists.
B次元官网网址淚 think when everyone shares the same goal, everyone buys in and itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a lot of fun,B次元官网网址� the 17-year-old told Black Press Media prior to the tournament.
While growing up in View Royal and Langford, he fell in love with hockey as he played for the Juan de Fuca Grizzlies before moving on to the Pacific Coast Hockey Academy (PCHA) and South Island Royals. He credits coaches like the PCHAB次元官网网址檚 Mark Kosick for being a big part of getting him to where he is today.
The six-foot forward missed out on the U17 worlds due to an injury, making last weekB次元官网网址檚 pre-tournament tune-up game against Hungary the first time he got to wear the maple leaf.
B次元官网网址淭his is my first time playing for Canada and itB次元官网网址檚 been super special,B次元官网网址� the 2006-born player said on July 27. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an honour to put on the jersey today and keep doing it for these next couple of weeks.B次元官网网址�
CanadaB次元官网网址檚 tournament began Monday with a 9-6 loss against Finland. The teams traded leads through the first two frames, with Canada tying the game at 5-5 early in the third. Finland then rolled off four unanswered goals in the gameB次元官网网址檚 last 10 minutes to take the preliminary round opener.
Josephson is coming off a 19-point freshman year with the WHLB次元官网网址檚 Red Deer Rebels where being a top faceoff taker and solid penalty killer earned him the teamB次元官网网址檚 rookie of the year distinction.
B次元官网网址淚n Red Deer, playing with some older guys helped me develop my 200-foot game, just playing both sides of the puck,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址�(ThatB次元官网网址檚 something) IB次元官网网址檝e been working on a lot and hopefully I can help out with Team Canada here and win a gold.B次元官网网址�
The heavily scouted Hlinka Gretzky Cup gives many their first look at those destined for the NHLB次元官网网址檚 2024 draft class. As he enters his draft-eligible year, Josephson said heB次元官网网址檚 trying not to think about it too much. Instead, heB次元官网网址檚 focusing the getting better at the international tournament and taking on anything the national team needs him to do.
B次元官网网址淲hatever role they give me IB次元官网网址檒l embrace that and do my best to help the team win.B次元官网网址�
Josephson had one point in his international debut as he assisted on CanadaB次元官网网址檚 sixth tally. The defending champs take on Slovakia on Tuesday before the pre-medal round wraps with a contest against Switzerland on Aug. 5.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e all really good teams,B次元官网网址� Josephson said. B次元官网网址淓very country is really good and itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a challenge every night.B次元官网网址�
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