Team Canada practised inside the Edmonton bubble on Saturday.
They re probably not destined for a Matthew Tkachuk versus Zack Kassian type feud, but one day soon Oilers 2020 first rounder Dylan Holloway and Flames 2019 first rounder Jakob Pelletier hope to be part of the Battle of Alberta. For now, though, they are joining forces on what is shaping up to be a key line for Team Canada at the World Juniors.
Will it be harder to hate each other in the NHL one day if they win gold together? I think probably a little bit, Holloway said with a grin. We re close teammates . I really like playing with Pelts. He s super fast, plays really hard and a really smart player.
Team Canada held its first practice inside the Edmonton bubble on Friday.
At the end of Friday s practice, their first inside the Edmonton bubble, Team Canada gathered at one end of the ice and players were told to look up for a special message. Moments later, Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who won a gold medal at the 2015 World Juniors in Toronto, appeared on the video board. There s nothing more special than winning a gold medal on Canadian soil so hopefully you can defend it and do Edmonton and do Canada proud, McDavid told the group.
He then proceeded to announce the team s leadership group. Lethbridge centre Dylan Cozens and Vancouver defenceman Bowen Byram, both returning players, will be alternates while forward Kirby Dach, on loan from the Chicago Blackhawks, will be captain. It was only a few months ago that Dach helped the Blackhawks eliminate McDavid s Oilers inside the Edmonton bubble. McDavid noted that Dach is going to be a special player.