Sutter putting his stamp on ‘Canada’s team’ early

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — Head coach Brent Sutter does not mince words when it come to talking about the kind of team he wants to take to the 2014 world junior championship this winter.

At the team’s summer evaluation camp at the Herb Brooks Arena – shared with Team USA, Sweden and Finland – Sutter’s message is clear the moment his squad hits the ice. By design, there are no identifying names on the backs of jerseys. Instead, the nameplates all feature the same moniker: CANADA

“We’re Canada’s team,” said Sutter, who coached the nation to gold in 2005 and 2006 with undefeated records. “That’s who we are. We’re all one.”

The short, intense summer camp has been challenging for a number of players in terms of getting back into hockey mode after the off-season, but Sutter said he’s been happy with the way they've been progressing.

“We’re really happy with the progress in the short few days we’ve been together here,” said Sutter. “We just want to continue on that path. That’s what we’ve talked about since day one, to take it one day at a time and make sure the process is the right way with our focus and our preparation. Everything we do each day let’s make sure we get something out of it.”

There’s no rest for the wicked and even less rest for the players invited to camp. The off-season has been a short one for many of them, considering many junior camps are around the corner.

“It’s been pretty short,” said Belleville Bulls captain Brendan Gaunce. “This is kind of the cutoff of the summer. There’s only two weeks left before we go to camp, but it was good though.”

For a player like Zach Fucale, the turnaround has been even shorter when you consider he only finished playing hockey on May 26, when his Halifax Mooseheads captured the Memorial Cup. After that he was off to the NHL Entry Draft at the end of June, where he was taken by the Montreal Canadiens – so the summer has been a whirlwind tour.

"It's been a while since we've played a game, especially one early like this in August," said Fucale. "It was good to get back into a game -- a fast paced game -- obviously the competition level out there is really, really high, so it was fun to be a part of."

Like most attending camp, the players say they’ll be happy doing whatever Sutter asks of them to make the team opening the tournament on Dec. 26 in Malmo, Sweden.

"Everyone of those kids has something to give and it’s just about getting the best out of every one of them,” said Sutter.

Gaunce says it was difficult early on in the camp for players to shake off the rust and get their timing back on the ice. But it’s clear with the kind of competition in camp, Sutter will be looking for players who can bring versatility – which bodes well for Gaunce given his strong two-way play in Belleville.

“You need to be able to play line one through four here,” said Gaunce, who has four points in two exhibition games. “Whatever role they put you in, you need to be able to adapt to it and I think playing a two-way game you adapt to different roles in and out all season because you’re put in different situations.”

The first-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks in 2012 has already been a part of the Hockey Canada system having won gold twice for Canada at the Ivan Hlinka tournament and world under-17 tournament in 2011 and bronze at the 2012 world under-18 tournament.

But despite those accomplishments, Gaunce says there’s nothing bigger for a Canadian hockey player than wearing a maple leaf jersey at the world junior championship.

“It’s something that Canada’s really proud of,” said Gaunce. “As a Canadian you always want to win the world juniors. It’s something that once you’re a kid playing hockey that’s your goal – to be able to play for the world junior team at Christmas.”