Kanata’s Cole Beaudoin making bid for Team Canada

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Cole Beaudoin winced when simply shaking hands after Team Canada’s exhibition game against the U Sports All-Stars at TD Place on Thursday, and it wasn’t the overpowering grip of a sportswriter that put him in discomfort.

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The robust 6-2, 210-pound power forward took a puck off his hand a day earlier, ending his practice session not long after it began, but he wasn’t going to let the injury hurt his chances of realizing a dream.

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As the extra forward on the lineup sheet on Thursday, he might not have seen as much ice time as he’s used to, but Beaudoin played every shift the only way he knows.

In Canada’s 5-2 victory against a good team of older men, the Kanata product was a presence.

He was hard on the forecheck and finished his checks with force, arguably the most physical player on the ice.

“It’s all good,” Beaudoin said of his tender mitt, not wanting to discuss the injury. “Just trying to battle through it and help the team out there as much as possible.”

Beaudoin does more than help teams.

He gives them a new look.

Utah Hockey Club general manager Bill Armstrong said as much when he traded the Colorado Avalanche two second-round picks and a third so he could move up to take Beaudoin with the 24th-overall selection in last June’s National Hockey League draft.

“His work ethic might change the culture of our organization,” Armstrong explained to reporters at the time, per NHL.com.

“When you see the right player at the right time, and you’re like, ‘We’ll pay an extra price for the identity that he brings, I’m all in on that kid.’ He’s going to push the pace, how hard we play, and how hard we work off the ice. He’s going to help our culture.”

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Beaudoin attended the UHC development camp in the summer as well as the main camp, but the path for his future remained as it was laid out and he was returned to the Barrie Colts.

Through 24 games in this Ontario Hockey League season, he leads his team with 29 points while somehow taking just one minor penalty.

Either Beaudoin is related to every referee in the league or he possesses an uncanny knack for being able to punish opponents with being punished himself with time in the bin.

As such, it stands to figure that he’d be a tremendous asset at the world junior hockey championship, which begins at Canadian Tire Centre in two weeks.

“I’m just trying to come in as confident as possible and play my game, don’t change anything about that,” Beaudoin said. “I think that’s just one of my best races, whether it’s at an NHL camp or in the OHL, playing my game and sticking to that, being positive, being confident in myself to make plays, to skate hard. Yeah, just play my game.”

And drilling everyone he can.

“It’s part of my play style, getting on the forecheck, getting the hit, and then doing whatever the next play is,” he said. “But the physicality is definitely a big part of my game.”

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Beaudoin grew up 10 minutes from the Canadian Tire Centre, attending Senators games and playing a few in the building himself.

Needless to say, it would mean the world to him to play there in the worlds.

“It would be a privilege and super sweet to go to Canadian Tire Centre, kind of where I grew up, and be able to play there in front of Canadians,” he said.

Canadians, too, would appreciate watching Beaudoin play the style of hockey this country likes to view as its own.

NUTS AND BOLTS

Carson Rehkopf was the scoring star Thursday with a hattrick, including a pair in the third period as Canada erased a 2-1 deficit. The Kraken prospect also had an assist in a five-minute overtime session

“We knew he had the skill,” coach Dave Cameron said of the Brampton Steelheads centre he sees on a regular basis from behind the Ottawa 67’s bench. “He brought a lot of compete with that skill.”

After scoring 52 goals and 43 assists for 95 points last season, the 6-2, 202-pounder has 20 goals and 27 assists for 47 points in 27 games of the current campaign.

“That’s something I wanted to bring for sure,” Rehkopf said when told Cameron liked his compete level. “I wanted to show that I can play up and down the lineup and play heavy and create offence in other ways, other than just shooting the puck on the power play. So I thought I did a good job of that.”

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Porter Martone and Ethan Gauthier had the other goals for Canada.

All four Canada goalies played, with two playing for the U Sports team.

Owen Sound ‘tender Carter George had the best numbers, kicking aside all 10 shots he faced. Brampton’s Jack Ivankovic stopped nine of 10 shots, while Brandon’s Carson Bjarnason blocked six of eight.

Having the toughest day was Seattle’s Scott Ratzlaff, who was on the Canadian roster at last year’s worlds. He gave up four goals on 14 shots.

LAST CALL

Attendance at TD Place was sparse, as only about 500 turned out. Of course, ticket prices were steep, “starting at $50” … The two sides meet again Friday at TD Place. Game time is 12 noon … The list of those who didn’t dress for Canada on Thursday consisted of defencemen Oliver Bonk (London Knights), Beau Akey (Barrie Colts), Tanner Molendyk (Saskatoon Blades), Matthew Schaefer (Erie Otters) and forwards Mathieu Cataford (Rimouski Océanic), Easton Cowan (London Knights), Tanner Howe (Calgary Hitmen), Bradley Nadeau (Chicago Wolves, AHL), Calum Richie (Oshawa Generals) and Brayden Yager (Lethbridge Hurricanes).

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