MONCTON, N.B. — Like many youngsters, Jordan Spence grew up watching the world junior hockey championship.
Unlike his peers, though, the tradition for the Cornwall resident began on the other side of the globe.
“When I was young, and when I was in Japan, I would watch it with my dad,” Spence told The Guardian on Sunday.
The 19-year-old son of Adam and Kyoko Spence was born in Australia and later moved with his family to Japan. They came to Cornwall when Spence was 13. He has dual citizenship with Japan and Canada.
Spence, a five-foot-10, 178-pound Moncton Wildcats’ defenceman, left Monday for Red Deer, Alta., where Hockey Canada is holding its selection camp for the world junior tournament to be held in Edmonton from Dec. 25 to Jan 5.
“It’s every player’s dream to play in the world juniors and it was one of my dreams, too,” Spence said. “It’s a real honour to get selected to selection camp.
“For me, it’s a great experience and I am really looking forward to it. I just want to do the best I can and go from there.”
The last Island native to play for Team Canada at the tournament was Summerside’s Noah Dobson, when he wore the Maple Leaf at the 2019 tournament in British Columbia.
Spence is believed to be the first graduate of the Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals program to attend Team Canada’s selection camp.
“It’s pretty remarkable,” said general manager Pat McIver. “We’re pretty proud of Jordan’s accomplishments.”
By the numbers
A look at Cornwall’s Jordan Spence statistics from his junior career.
Season Team League GP G A Pts.
2017-18 Summerside MHL 50 13 38 51
2018-19 Moncton QMJHL 68 6 43 49
2019-20 Moncton QMJHL 60 9 43 52
2020-21 Moncton QMJHL 13 5 11 16
After going undrafted in his first year of eligibility in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) draft, the Charlottetown Bulk Carriers Pride graduate played junior A for the Caps. He blossomed with a 51-point campaign in 50 games as 16-year-old blue-liner.
He went high in the second round to the Wildcats the following year and was named the league’s top defenceman in 2019-20.
While the Ontario and Western hockey leagues have yet to begin their 2020-21 season due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Spence has 16 points in 13 games in the QMJHL.
“We’re really fortunate enough to be playing games,” he said. “I’m game ready.”
Spence represented Canada at the 2019 world under-18 hockey championship in Sweden after Moncton was eliminated from the post-season. He had a goal and two assists in seven games.
Some of the same players from that squad will be at this year’s camp, including Spence’s former Moncton teammate Jakob Pelletier, who was dealt to Val-d’Or in June.
“It’s going to be exciting to see Pelletier once I get to Red Deer.”
He also knows Charlottetown Islanders’ athletic therapist Kevin Elliott, who is handling the same role with Hockey Canada at this year’s tournament. Elliott is a veteran in the role, having worked at five previous tournaments and being part of the gold medal-winning team in 2018 in Buffalo, N.Y.
Spence was drafted in the fourth round (95th overall) by the Los Angeles Kings at the 2019 NHL draft. Quinton Byfield went second overall in this year’s draft to the Kings. Spence is looking forward to meeting him in Alberta.
“I know he’s a real good player so I can’t wait.”
There are 45 players taking part in the selection camp, including 14 defenceman. Lukas Cormier of the Islanders and Justin Barron of the Halifax Mooseheads are also competing for spots on the blue-line.
Jason Malloy is The Guardian's sports editor. He can be reached by email at [email protected] and followed on Twitter at @SportsGuardian .
