Instant chemistry between two Quebec men

Edmonton | William Dufour and Joshua Roy didn’t know each other before the World Junior Hockey Championships started. However, the chemistry was instant off the ice and it also moved onto the ice on Thursday against the Slovaks.

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Hockey players from the Greater Quebec City area — Roy of Saint-Georges-de-Bosse and Dufour, of Quebec City — met briefly for the first time during Team Canada’s junior camp in December. Finally canceled.

“Growing up, we played against a few times, but he was from Beauce and I am from Quebec and I was a year older. I think in total, we had to face each other six or seven times,” explained Dufour yesterday, who met in the hotel lobby where ECJ was having fun A day off on the eve of their clash against the Czechs, on Saturday night. .

However, since their arrival in Edmonton, the hockey players have developed a great friendship.

“He’s probably my best friend in the team. We’re the only ones from Quebec, so we were on the plane together. On the bench, we often told each other that we’d like to play together.”

instant chemistry

Their wish was granted on Thursday night when manager Dave Cameron decided to conduct the experiment because the match was in his team’s pocket, leading 8-1 after 40 minutes.

Thus Roy was removed from the first line completed by Mason McTavish and Conor Bedard to find himself with Dufour and Zach Ostapchuk in what theoretically constitutes the third unit in the offensive. They scored two goals in that post.

“I think we’ve had chances to score with every appearance we’ve made. That’s what we told ourselves off the bench, we wanted to create things with every presence. We’d definitely like to play together again tomorrow [samedi soir] But it is not our decision. »

Yesterday, on TSN mic, coach Cameron didn’t reveal who would complete the McTavish-Bedard duo on Saturday night – it was Brennan Usman who did so during Thursday’s third term.

But the latter confirmed that goalkeeper Dylan Garand is the one who will face the Czech Republic.

Confident

After a slow start against the Latvians on Wednesday, Canada sent a message on Thursday dropping the Slovaks 11-1.

“We didn’t have the expected start, Dufour admitted, and a lot of people were wondering about us. On the other hand, we came out so strong against Slovakia that I think people answered their questions. The Czechs are an excellent hockey team and they’ve had a good competition for Finland.” [une défaite de 4 à 3 en tirs de barrage]. We are not nervous, we know they have a good team, but we are confident in our abilities. »