If anyone appreciates what the World Junior Championship means to Canadians, it’s Jim Madigan.
The Northeastern coach grew up in Montreal and has followed the tournament from its start in the 1970s.
“I remember watching the very first one as a kid. I understand the importance of it. The nation gets behind it. It’s the lead story nationally,’’ he said.
But that doesn’t mean Hockey Canada is infallible.
Madigan supports Michigan coach Mel Pearson and Wisconsin coach Tony Granato, who questioned the length of Canada’s WJC camp — it opens on Nov. 16, five weeks before the tournament starts — and its possible negative impact on U.S. college players.
Canada’s powerhouse teams traditionally are made up of mostly major junior players. Because of COVID-19, two of the top three junior leagues have not started their seasons yet. Thus, Hockey Canada decided on a camp that will be considerably longer than usual, raising concerns on the NCAA side.
Hockey Canada invited four NCAA players: Owen Power of Michigan, Dylan Holloway of Wisconsin, Alex Newhook of Boston College and Devon Levi of Northeastern.
Newhook, a Colorado first-rounder, and Levi, a Florida seventh-rounder, will attend the camp. Power, likely to be a top five pick in the 2021 NHL draft, will not. It remains to be seen whether Holloway, picked in the first round by Edmonton, will go.
Madigan has discussed the issue with Pearson, Granato and Boston College’s Jerry York.
“All four of us have had texts and emails and phone calls in the last three to four weeks,’’ he said.
“It’s a long time for a student-athlete to be away from their campus. Our kid (Levi) leaves (Tuesday),’’ Madigan said, and might not be back until January.
Levi, a freshman who projects as Northeastern’s No. 1 goalie, “could be gone almost 60 days. Thirty of those days, there’s still school going on. There’s a student component of all of this that we sometimes fail to realize. That’s a long time, from an academic perspective. It’s really difficult.
“Devin is a computer science major — that’s a demanding, challenging program. He’s going to miss some quality academic time, both in the classroom and remotely,’’ Madigan said, as well as a significant chunk of Hockey East games.
“(The longer camp) makes sense (for Canada). Hockey Canada believes they need to do this to be successful. But it doesn’t make sense for our players.’’
The situations of Levi and Power are different than Newhook and Holloway, he said.
“Newhook is making the team. Holloway is making the team. Owen Power and our goalie, there is some depth in those two positions. How they perform and how other players perform will determine whether they make it. Just be transparent with me on where (Levi) is, so if he’s not in your top two goalies let him return and play in college so he can get some games and development under his belt.
“If he’s first or second, we’d be happy, we’d love it, we’d be in support of it. If he’s not, (release him to return to Northeastern). (Canada) can bring a major junior goalie in and fill the (third goalie) role.’’
Madigan is optimistic that the situation will come to a positive conclusion.
“My last conversation with Hockey Canada was a very positive one. That was last Thursday. I think we’re on the same page now. There were some tenuous conversations early on in the process.’'
Newhook is ready
Still smarting after not making the cut for Canada a year ago, Boston College’s Newhook is excited to get to camp. He departs on Friday.
As much as he’s looking forward to the tournament, leaving Boston College and his teammates behind for a couple of months won’t be easy.
“It is tough when you look at the season for BC. Obviously, I want to be here and be contributing to my team as much as I can. Coach York has been great in giving me this opportunity. It’s hard to pass up international competition and playing for your country,’’ Newhook said.
“I won’t be here for the first half of the season, hopefully being with the Canadian team. It is what it is at this point. I’ll do what I can when I get back.’’
He will use last year as incentive.
“I thought I had a good enough camp to be named to the roster, but Canada is loaded every year, it’s a factory of talent and good players. Being that close and not getting there was tough, but I’m kind of taking it for what it is and using it as motivation to make the roster this year and move forward in my career.’’
Four of Newhook’s BC teammates are in the mix for the U.S. team. They are Spencer Knight, Matt Boldy, Drew Helleson and Marshall Warren.
Naturally, there has been some chirping between friends.
“Oh yeah. There’s been some lingering talk about it already. Hopefully all the guys on my team get there. Same for me. Hopefully I can get to that stage. If we’re all there, that will really add to the fire of the Canada-U.S. rivalry, for me anyway. It should be pretty exciting,’’ said Newhook.
Long-distance trip
Dennis Cesana’s journey to college hockey was a long and circuitous one.
The Providence native went from the Hillside School in Marlboro to Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire and then to the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (where his billet-mate and sometime defense partner was Cale Makar) before he enrolled at Michigan State University.
It was well worth the miles. And there are probably some schools in Hockey East and the ECAC who are wondering how they let him leave New England.
Cesana, a junior, is an assistant captain for the Spartans and this week was selected to the All-Big 10 preseason team.
Watching Struble
According to Madigan, Northeastern defenseman Jayden Struble didn’t practice on Monday after tweaking a previous groin injury.
Struble, who is in the mix for the U.S. team at the World Junior Championship, should be back in a few days, Madigan said.
A second-round pick by Montreal in 2019, Struble missed three days at the recent U.S. WJC camp in Michigan with the same groin injury.
A healthy Struble, who plays a strong, edgy all-around game, could be a big asset to the U.S. team.
