Scout
08-14-2007, 04:02 PM
Keen's Korner
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Canada opened up the U-18 summer tournament in the Czech Republic with a 3-2 shootout loss to Sweden. Broncos forward Geordie Wudrick didn't factor into the scoring.
Before he left I tracked him down for a few questions.
JK: Geordie, I've known you as a guy that always looked forward to wearing the Maple Leaf, the way you talk about the World Junior tournament leads me to believe this is a huge honour.
GW: It was an unbelievable feeling. It's something you work towards your whole life. Like watching the world juniors it makes me really proud even watching the guys on TV so when I was told I made the team it was an incredible feeling I felt so proud. Even putting the jersey on for the team picture... all the boys in the dressing room had huge smiles on their faces, it was just awesome.
JK: This is the first step towards the big club, the U-20 team, this bodes well for you to make that team in the future.
GW: This is the first big step. Up until now since the bantam draft this is the biggest thing that has happened to me. Now being part of the Program of Excellence I hope the next stage is that team. After that there's tons of paths after that like the World Championships and the Olympics.
JK: Tell me about your overseas or travelling experience... have you ever been overseas?
GW: To be honest I haven't been too far out of Canada, I've only been to two U.S. states - Michigan and Washington. But I have a little bit of international experience. Back in bantam our Abbottsford club team we played this Russian team and we actually beat this high-powered team. I have little bit of a taste of their kind of style. And just playing against the Euros around the WHL and being around out two Czech players Daniel Rakos and David Steiler was helped me. They play a different, puck possession style and use the big ice well.
JK: What is the mindset for Team Canada right now?
GW: Our motto is "we're hunting for gold" and that's what we have in mind. Going there we are going to shoot for the top, anything less would be a disappointment for us. We have an incredible team, by far the best team I've ever played on - we could have made two teams out of camp to compete at this tournament. We're hunting for gold.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Canada opened up the U-18 summer tournament in the Czech Republic with a 3-2 shootout loss to Sweden. Broncos forward Geordie Wudrick didn't factor into the scoring.
Before he left I tracked him down for a few questions.
JK: Geordie, I've known you as a guy that always looked forward to wearing the Maple Leaf, the way you talk about the World Junior tournament leads me to believe this is a huge honour.
GW: It was an unbelievable feeling. It's something you work towards your whole life. Like watching the world juniors it makes me really proud even watching the guys on TV so when I was told I made the team it was an incredible feeling I felt so proud. Even putting the jersey on for the team picture... all the boys in the dressing room had huge smiles on their faces, it was just awesome.
JK: This is the first step towards the big club, the U-20 team, this bodes well for you to make that team in the future.
GW: This is the first big step. Up until now since the bantam draft this is the biggest thing that has happened to me. Now being part of the Program of Excellence I hope the next stage is that team. After that there's tons of paths after that like the World Championships and the Olympics.
JK: Tell me about your overseas or travelling experience... have you ever been overseas?
GW: To be honest I haven't been too far out of Canada, I've only been to two U.S. states - Michigan and Washington. But I have a little bit of international experience. Back in bantam our Abbottsford club team we played this Russian team and we actually beat this high-powered team. I have little bit of a taste of their kind of style. And just playing against the Euros around the WHL and being around out two Czech players Daniel Rakos and David Steiler was helped me. They play a different, puck possession style and use the big ice well.
JK: What is the mindset for Team Canada right now?
GW: Our motto is "we're hunting for gold" and that's what we have in mind. Going there we are going to shoot for the top, anything less would be a disappointment for us. We have an incredible team, by far the best team I've ever played on - we could have made two teams out of camp to compete at this tournament. We're hunting for gold.