OTTAWA — It’s serious business carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders and the Canadian leaf on the front.
So we’re pleased to learn these Canadian juniors can have some fun when they’re not busy living up to the hype of a team playing at home in the World Junior Hockey Championships.
The way skilled forward Mathew Barzal tells it, life with Team Canada sounds a bit like minor hockey tournament fun — other than the other-worldly expectations.
“We’ve had some bus rides, and were six to a room in an apartment in (Mont) Tremblant, watching movies, watching hockey, playing cards,” Barzal said after the Canadians skated at the Canadian Tire Centre Tuesday in preparation for Wednesday’s pre-tournament game in Ottawa against the Czech Republic.
“On the bus, everybody is talking and playing music,” added Barzal, a New York Islanders prospect. “Honestly, it’s been a really fun experience so far …