NHL

World Junior Championships Should Matter To Hockey Fans

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By @LissaRantSports

Anthony Duclair (New York Rangers) playing for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships in Montreal

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In a recent article in Montreal, a headline suggested that the World Junior Championships were not interesting to hockey fans — at least not in the city. They cite the attendance numbers. The Bell Centre (one of the venues this year, the other being Toronto) seats 21,287.

It’s hard to find an empty seat on a night when the hometown Montreal Canadiens are in town, but attendance numbers in the WJC games played so far have been a little over half the capacity, and it’s making headlines not only in Montreal, but throughout the networks broadcasting the tournament.

It was suggested by the article that Montreal is a city unto itself, and for Montrealers, hockey is only about Habs. That may be true, but I’d like to point out why hockey fans should be interested in the Juniors at all.

Patriotism is one reason, and the numbers suggest that Canadians are interested in Team Canada – hence the sea of red and white in the stands when Canada is playing. We’ve seen it in past tournaments held in Canada, the United States and Russia.

Also, the games which “count” (medal/elimination rounds) might be more popular given the weight they hold in the bigger picture of the tournament — especially if Canada, as expected, plays through.

But for hockey fans, it’s all good because the level of hockey being played at the WJC is exciting. It isn’t professional, but it is the kind of hockey that fans enjoy seeing. There are plays that will be remembered, saves that will make highlight reels, and even if it is not a team one supports, it is hard not to notice the calibre of up-and-coming players.

And therein lies the key to the Juniors. Hockey fans watch the WJC with interest in seeing which names will rise to the top. One of, if not the biggest name is Connor McDavid. He is playing for Team Canada this year, and is no doubt the One To Watch.

McDavid has been named the player everyone wants their team to draft in 2015; he has been compared to Sidney Crosby, and watching him, it’s easy to see why. There are fans of lagging NHL teams who are euphoric to think they might see McDavid drafted by their potentially last-place team in July.

There are those who joke about wanting their team to do poorly just to be able to get McDavid in the draft, as he will doubtlessly go first.

If you still have doubt about the foresight it takes to follow the WJC as a hockey fan, one only has to turn to two rather well-known players watched by fans since winning gold with Team Canada in the 2009 World Juniors: P.K. Subban and John Tavares (New York Islanders).

Savvy WJC watchers are amateur scouts of sorts, and that’s why it is so rewarding to follow the tournament yearly.

Lissa Albert is a Montreal Canadiens writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter @LissaRantSports. “Like” her on Facebook and/or add her to your network on Google. 

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