Team Canada wraps up World Juniors training camp in Petawawa, Ont.

December 18, 2024 Canuck

The IIHF World Junior Championship is just eight days away from kicking off in Ottawa and Team Canada has been hard at work preparing in the Ottawa Valley.

The country’s best young hockey players have spent the past four days at CFB Petawawa, conducting a pre-tournament camp.

The camp is reminiscent of 2009, when Ottawa last hosted the World Juniors, as that year’s team also spent time holding a training camp at the base’s Silver Dart Arena. That 2009 tournament is famously remembered for a dramatic semi-final win over Russia, and ultimately a gold medal for Canada.

Now back at the arena in Petawawa 15 years later, the team is hoping for history to repeat itself.

“They did win gold after they visited Petawawa 15 years ago, and I hope that we are part of replicating that good luck,” said LCol. Nicolas Forsyth, deputy base commander at Garrison Petawawa.

“I think it’s safe to say the CAF community is behind them, the Petawawa community is behind them, and we know that we’re going to rise to the occasion when the time comes. We have all the confidence in them.”

“That’s super cool, the fact that they kind of did the same thing that we’re going through back in 2009,” said Team Canada forward Cole Beaudoin.

A signed 2009 Team Canada jersey from the IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa hangs in the Silver Dart Arena in Petawawa, Ont., where the team trained prior to its gold medal winning tournament. (Dylan Dyson/CTV News Ottawa)

It will be a hometown tournament for many players on Team Canada, including Beaudoin and defenceman Oliver Bonk, both of whom were born in the capital. Forward Luca Pinelli and head coach Dave Cameron have also spent numerous years with the Ottawa 67’s.

“Obviously, you know, it’s a special city,” said Pinelli. “I’ve been here for the last three and a half years, so for it to be here, it just means a lot for me.”

“I’ve watched this tournament every year since I was a little kid and dreamed of playing in this tournament, and now I’m here, so it’s crazy,” Beaudoin told CTV News. “And to think of it being in Ottawa, the rink being five minutes away from my house is crazy. I mean, I have lots of family and friends there, so it’s super cool and I’m super excited.”

The team wrapped up its camp in Petawawa Wednesday by holding a mixed squad game with the Petawawa Stags men’s and women’s military teams and skating with local youth players.

Earlier in the week, the team also participated in team building exercises hosted by the military base, learning of the soldiers’ training and flying in chinook helicopters.

“It’s so nice,” remarked LCdr. Danielle Curry, a goalie with the Stags women’s team who was selected to participate in the scrimmage.

“Petawawa’s obviously a really big part of my life, but it’s a small town. You don’t get opportunities like this very often, so to come out to see what we do, to go flying with our squad yesterday and to do all the activities with the base is awesome. And then to play with and be on the bench with them, it’s just been a blast so far.”

The team held an autograph session at the Petawawa Civic Centre Wednesday afternoon before heading back to the nation’s capital to continue preparations. The team will play its first of three exhibition games Thursday versus Switzerland.

These young players are hoping after all is said and done, they will be able to hang their winning jersey alongside the 2009 squad’s in Petawawa.

“It’s really special,” said Bonk. “It doesn’t happen too often, but yeah, it’s just a good enjoy the moment and hopefully go for the gold here.”

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