Hurricanes players excited for world juniors opportunity

By Lethbridge Herald on December 6, 2024.

Lethbridge Hurricanes Brayden Yager battles for the puck with Hunter St. Martin of the Medicine Hat Tigers during WHL action at VisitLethbridge.com Arena on Friday. Yager is looking to make Team CanadaÕs World Junior team for a second consecutive year.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Three Lethbridge Hurricanes are off to their respective world junior selection camps next week and are excited about the possibility of representing their countries over the holiday season in Ottawa.

Newly acquired Hurricane, Brayden Yager, will look to don the red and white maple leaf for a second straight year.

“I think a little bitter taste in our mouths for sure,” said Yager.

“Obviously, last year (Canada) came fifth or whatever, so this year (we’re) looking to go there and get a gold medal.”

Yager has that experience and will look to bring a leadership role.

“All the players there are great players and everybody’s probably a leader in their own way at their club team,” said Yager.

“So I think just bringing a bit of experience, a little bit of leadership and definitely try and help the team win.”

Once the roster is the finalized there will be a period of time for repetition to develop chemistry.

“I think just let the coaching staff take care of who’s playing with who and yeah I think whoever I’m play with, (I’m) going to try and spend some time with ,” said Yager.

Yager is excited to hopefully get the chance to play the championship on home soil.

“The tournament a couple of years ago in Halifax was pretty cool to watch and I have some buddies who said it was the best games they’ve ever played in with the atmosphere,” said Yager.

“Being a Canadian and getting to represent your country in Canada is definitely something that’s pretty special to me.”

Defenceman Wojtech Port has extra motivation to make Czechia’s roster this year.

“I’m pretty excited because last year I got injured right before the tournament started, so yeah I’m pretty excited to get there and see the guys again,” said Port.

Port is hoping to continue on the goods tournaments that Czechia has had in the past couple of years with a bronze in 2024 and a silver in 2023.

“Hopefully this year we can do something again,” said Port.

Leo Braillard will likely represent Switzerland for a second consecutive year.

“Yeah really excited to represent my country,” said Braillard.

Canes head coach Bill Peters wants to see  Canada win the gold medal.

“I’d love for one of the other guys to go silver, bronze and whatever they decide,” said Peters “We’ll get our Swiss pom poms out as long as they’re not playing against Canada, the same thing when Czechia plays.”