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Team Canada vet bearer of bad news

SCOTT FISHER, QMI Agency, Dec 14 2011

CALGARY – Jaden Schwartz answered The Call.

Even though it wasn’t for him, the veteran forward hated to hear the phone ring.

Schwartz, whose name is written in ink on Team Canada’s final roster, said he didn’t feel good about handing the phone to roommate Matt Dumba, one of seven players released Tuesday morning.

“The phone rang and they asked for Matt,” Schwartz said. “I just tried to wish him the best. He’s a young kid and I thought he played really well.

“I talked to him last night and he said that’s some of the best hockey he’s ever played.

“I don’t he has any regrets. He’s a young kid and he’s going to have plenty of shots. He’s got a bright future.”

Calgary Flames draft picks Michael Ferland (Brandon Wheat Kings) and Max Reinhart (Kootenay Ice) were also sent packing along with defencemen Jerome Gauthier-Leduc (Rimouski Oceanic) and Brenden Kichton (Spokane Chiefs) and forwards Mark McNeill (Prince Albert Raiders) and Zack Phillips (Saint John Sea Dogs).

Schwartz, one of Team Canada’s four returnees, told Dumba, the youngest player in camp and a Calgary native, to look at a couple of other recent Team Canada cuts — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Tyler Seguin — for inspiration.

Nugent-Hopkins failed to make last year’s squad, but went No. 1 in the draft to the Edmonton Oilers and is the clear-cut frontrunner to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie.

Seguin received the dreaded call two years ago and he already has a Stanley Cup ring on his finger.

“I felt bad,” Schwartz said. “I felt really bad.

“You look at Nugent-Hopkins and how he had such a strong second half and look where he ended up. I just told (Dumba) to look at that. And Seguin did the same thing. They were two guys that popped into my mind. The same thing happened to them and they’ve done great things ever since.

“He’s an unreal player and I just tried to help him as much as I could.”

Schwartz said losing his roommate was a reminder of how fortunate he is to get a second chance after being knocked out of last year’s tournament with a broken ankle.

“It’s never fun,” the St. Louis Blues prospect said. “You don’t get a lot of sleep during these nights. It’s a scary thing because you want to make this team.

“Once (Dumba) left the room, it made me realize today is the last day and you can’t take anything for granted.

“It put things in perspective and made me want it that much more.”

Team Canada coach Don Hay, who will make the remaining cuts Wednesday morning, said there isn’t a single easy release in the bunch.

“Whenever you’re dealing with elite players, the decisions are tough,” Hay said.

“I thought Matt did very well. We knew he would do well here.

“But is he ready for this tournament at this time? We don’t think so.”

Dean
M.Ed (Coaching)
Ch.P.C. (Chartered Professional Coach)
Game Intelligence Training
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