The young stars on Team North America ready to impress at World Cup of Hockey

“With the NHL team, there isn’t 21 guys standing up and putting their leg over the board every power play,” said McLellan, whose day job is leading the Edmonton Oilers. “Here they’re all already on the ice and you’ve got to put 15 of them back on the players’ bench.”

Young, skilled and fast, Team North America is an unorthodox entry in the World Cup of Hockey. But the U.S.-Canadian hybrid team of players 23 and under promises to be worth watching.

The young guns open play Sunday against Finland before facing Russia on Monday and Sweden on Wednesday, with all games at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre.

North America went 2-1-0 in exhibition play, defeating Europe 4-0 and 7-4 and losing 3-2 to the Czech Republic.

The squad, many of whom have played with or against each other in recent years at various international levels, has already impressed with its pace on the ice.

“I think that their speed stands out. They’re confident,” Canada captain Sidney Crosby said at Thursday’s media day. “I think those are probably the two biggest things that you realize. To be at their age and have the success that they do, you don’t have that without confidence and obviously skill. They have a good combination of that. And I think they respect their opponent but not too much, so you have to be ready for them.”

The 48-year-old McLellan says his young team poses risks at both ends of the ice.

“We’re a fast, exciting team one way. And we can be pretty exciting going the other way. So just getting them to understand that the risk-reward part of it is going to become real important as the tournament wears on.

“If we can limit the risk, if we’re giving up 10 risky plays a night, if we can take that down to seven or eight, that will give us a much better chance of winning.”

That includes convincing his young stars to block shots and take care of the puck.

“They’re thoroughbreds. They want to run,” McLellan said.

While the players don’t wear their country’s crest, they are bonding. Matthews took objection to a Roman Polak hit on McDavid in the exhibition loss to the Czech Republic, punishing the hard-nosed defenceman with a cross-check.

“Everybody’s really come together well,” said Nugent-Hopkins. “We’re feeling more and more like a team, as we go along.”

McLellan says the plan has been to give the young stars enough structure to play freely while holding them accountable.

“Our team’s going to play with some risk,” he said. “It’s fun to watch them do that. But can we limit it in certain areas of the ice and at certain times of the game to allow us to have success?

“That’s what we’re here for. We’re here to win. But I want the players to enjoy it and play to their strengths.”

So far, so good.

“It’s been a blast,” said Gaudreau, happy to talk hockey rather than contract negotiations with the Flames.

McDavid says with the start of the tournament, the days of 4-0 or 7-4 games are over.

“This whole tournament is going to be all about winning games 3-2, 2-1, those type of games … We’re going to have to tighten it up,” he said.

McLellan and his coaching staff of Jon Cooper (Tampa Bay), Peter DeBoer (San Jose), Dave Tippett (Arizona) and Jay Woodcroft (Edmonton) have been trying out different line combinations ahead of the tournament.

One goal has been to get their players to be more selfish, rather than making a play for someone else.

“A lot of times we take an offensive chance and turn it into nothing,” said McLellan.

Still, the Oilers coach marvels at the way today’s young talent has become so good so fast.

He credits technology for helping them study the game. He also cites the courage and confidence of today’s youngsters.

Team Canada coach Mike Babcock will be keeping a close eye on Team North America given the presence of Toronto’s Matthews and Rielly.

“Well obviously I’m cheering for those guys too every night that we don’t play them,” the Leafs coach said. “And when we play them, I hope they play good, I just hope they lose.”

An EA Sports NHL 17 video game simulation of the tournament predicts just that, with Canada defeating North America in three games in the final.

— With files from Jonas Siegel

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Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

The young stars on Team North America ready to impress at World Cup of Hockey

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