CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - Charlie DesRoches will live out a childhood dream this weekend when he pulls on the Maple Leaf and plays for Canada at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
“That’s what every kid in Canada grows up thinking about,” the Days Corner native said. “Watching the Olympics and world juniors, that’s just what you dream of.”
DesRoches was one of 112 players invited to an evaluation camp in July in Calgary. Hockey Canada then selected 66 players to play on one of three Canadian teams at the international tournament.
DesRoches is likely going to be one of the fan favourites as the tournament is being held in Saint John and Quispamsis, N.B., and the young blue-liner is a rookie defenceman with the hometown Sea Dogs.
“It’s going to be really fun. It’s a great opportunity for us,” DesRoches said, noting three of his Sea Dogs teammates are also playing in the tournament. “Obviously, (there’s) a lot you can learn, great players and great coaches as well and (there’s) a little bit of advantage because I’m playing in our home barn.”
Canada White opens the tournament against Canada Black Sunday at 4 p.m. at Harbour Station in Saint John.
The competing teams are together this week in New Brunswick and play their first pre-tournament games today at 7 p.m. Canada White plays Russia in Fredericton Junction, N.B. Finding chemistry quickly is always key in these short tournaments.
“We do a lot of team bonding,” DesRoches said. “The more you get to know each other, the better you’ll do.”
DesRoches has the added comfort of having his defence partner in Saint John, Jérémie Poirier, also on the Brett Gibson-coached Canada White.
“It’s great,” DesRoches said. “I have a lot of good chemistry with him.”
DesRoches made jump from midget hockey in the United States last year to major junior after the Sea Dogs selected him in the second round of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft in June.
He is one of five players selected in the first two rounds to crack the Sea Dogs lineup this season. DesRoches said the competition is bigger and faster than last year, but he feels he’s been able to make a good adjustment.
“We’re a really young team, but we’re just battling and trying to get better every day,” DesRoches said Friday after a game against the Charlottetown Islanders at the Eastlink Centre.
DesRoches said his older brother Jack, an 18-year-old blue-liner with the Miramichi Timberwolves, has been a big part of his hockey career.
“He’s a great role model for me,” Charlie said. “Obviously getting to play with him in Kensington (with the major midget Wild) a couple of years ago was huge, so I owe a lot to him.”
Need to know
A look at Saint John Sea Dogs rookie defenceman Charlie DesRoches.
Hometown – Days Corner.
Age – 16.
Acquired – Saint John drafted DesRoches in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2018 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft.
Did you know? DesRoches will play for Canada White at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, which starts Saturday in New Brunswick.
2017-18 – DesRoches played for the Selects Academy midget team at South Kent School in Connecticut last season. He scored 42 points in 53 games.
2018-19 statistics
GP G A Pts. PIM
15 3 2 5 8
World Under-17 Hockey Challenge
What – An eight-team international showcase tournament.
When – Saturday to Nov. 10.
Where – Saint John and Quispamsis, N.B.
Local content – Days Corner native and Saint John Sea Dogs blue-liner Charlie DesRoches will play for Canada White and Charlottetown Islanders defenceman Lukas Cormier will play for Canada Red.
Future stars – More than 1,700 NHL draft picks have played in the event since it started in 1986. The list includes 13 first-overall draft picks since 2001 such as Rick Nash, Marc-André Fleury, Alexander Ovechkin, Patrick Kane, John Tavares, Taylor Hall, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews.
Lasting memories – Islanders goalie Matthew Welsh helped Canada White win the 2015 event in Dawson Creek, B.C., with a star-studded squad that included Robert Thomas, Owen Tippett, Gabriel Vilardi, Evan Bouchard, Nick Suzuki and Ian Scott. “It’s obviously an unbelievable experience,” Welsh said. “For a lot of kids, it’s their first time they get to wear the Maple Leaf. To be able to represent Hockey Canada is really special.”
Recent winners
2017 United States
2016 Sweden
2015 Canada White
2014 Russia
2014 United States
2013 Sweden
2012 Russia
2011 Ontario
2010 United States
* There were two tournaments in 2014, as the tournament moved from January to November.
