CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Jack Campbell’s confidence is high after leading the Canada Games boys’ hockey tournament in scoring.
The 15-year-old Souris native had three goals and 14 assists for 17 points in seven games. Ontario’s Brennan Othmann had 16 points, including 10 goals, while Newfoundland and Labrador teammates Ryan Green and Zach Dean each contributed 15 points.
“It gives me a lot of confidence,” Campbell said Saturday after arriving at the Charlottetown Airport following a long day of travel from Red Deer, Alta. “Hopefully that can carry over with the Wild.”
The Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild and Charlottetown Bulk Carriers Pride begin their best-of-seven provincial championship Saturday in Kensington.
After recording 27 goals and 27 assists in 27 games last season for the Eastern Express major bantam squad, Campbell was recruited by Wild coaches Kyle Dunn and Duane Richards.
Campbell has made a seamless transition to the next level.
He is eighth in team scoring on a deep Wild team while playing on the top line and on the power play.
“He’s a great kid and he’s going to have a great hockey future,” said Dunn, who was also his coach at the Canada Games.
Dunn said Campbell had a great week while playing against the best players at his age level with the lights shining bright as scouts look to find their team’s next gem.
“If they didn't already notice him, he’s definitely on their radar now,” Dunn said. “A tournament like this definitely does help your draft stock because you’re playing the best in Canada.”
Campbell will be eligible for this year’s Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft.
While Campbell put up strong offensive numbers, he’s more than a one trick pony.
“He’s a great leader,” Dunn said of the Team P.E.I.’s captain. “Guys look up to him on and off the ice. He’s a guy, no matter what, who brings it every shift.”
Campbell is appreciative of what he and his teammates were able to accomplish in Red Deer.
“My teammates helped me out because I wouldn't be able to do it without my linemates,” he said.
He remembered the early days of the process to make Team P.E.I.
The squad didn't win a game at the under-14 or under-15 Atlantic Challenge Cup.
“We just kept working hard, kept improving, practisting and then we had a good result at the Canada Games,” he said.
The squad had three wins and an overtime loss in pool play against the three territories and Newfoundland and Labrador. They lost to British Columbia in the qualifying round before beating the Northwest Territories and Newfoundland and Labrador to place ninth, tying the finish of Team P.E.I. at the 2015 Games.
P.E.I. defeated Newfoundland and Labrador 7-4 in both teams’ final game of the tournament. Campbell had three assists in the deciding game amongst the rivals who have battled each other for the upper hand during the past couple of years.
“We’re pretty close teams so it felt nice to finally get one off of them,” Campbell said.
Dunn said Campbell puts a lot of time and effort into improving his game. A sign of his commitment is driving from Souris to Kensington three or four times a week for practices and games.
“He wants to be a player and it shows by the commitment he puts in,” Dunn said.
Remember the names
A look at the top-10 scorers from the Canada Games boys’ hockey tournament in Red Deer.
G A Pts.
Jack Campbell, P.E.I. 3 14 17
Brennan Othmann, Ont. 10 6 16
Ryan Greene, N.L. 8 7 15
Zach Dean, N.L. 2 13 15
Zachary L’Heureux, Que. 10 3 13
Matt Savoie, Alta. 6 7 13
Logan Stankoven, B.C. 6 7 13
Dylan Guenther, Alta. 4 9 13
Joshua Roy, Que. 4 9 13
Samuel Schofield, NWT 6 6 12
Island’s top 5
Jack Campbell 3 14 17
Cameron MacLean 7 3 10
Connor Keough 5 4 9
Zach Biggar 1 7 8
Max Chisholm 2 5 7
Did you know? Summerside’s Jeremy McKenna led the 2015 tournament in scoring. He had 23 points in six games while linemates Carson MacKinnon and Thomas Casey had 16 and 14 points, respectively, to finish second and third. McKenna is amongst the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s leading scorers this year with 40 goals and 85 points in 59 games for the Moncton Wildcats.
