Cole Perfetti always loved watching the World Juniors. Until last year.
"I tried to watch the first game and every time I looked at the screen it was just a constant reminder that I got cut and it's hard to do that to yourself and sit through the pain," the Saginaw Spirit forward admitted. "I kept up on it on Twitter and stuff, but didn't really watch it. I couldn't bring myself to watch it knowing I was so close to that team and came up short."
It's not easy for draft-eligible players to make Team Canada so there was no shame in falling short at the selection camp. But it was still the first time Perfetti had ever been cut before so it stung. The Whitby, Ont. native channeled his disappointment into motivation, producing 66 points in the final 32 Ontario Hockey League games of the season.