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Team Canada Looking to Good Performance with Price in Net by AJ Bellegarde, Nativehockey.com correspondant After being a late cut from last years edition of the Canadian World Junior team, goaltender Carey Price is leaving behind his Western Hockey League Tri City Americans and heading overseas to Sweden to represent Canada. The 19 year old from Ulkatcho First Nation near Anahim Lake, BC says he’s looking forward to having a good tournament. “I feel more comfortable than I did last year. I had to perform well in order to give myself an opportunity, so I just went out there and gave it my all.” Price had a good camp, but stepped to the forefront in the final game at the World Junior evaluation camp in Calgary was versus the CIS Southern Alberta All Stars, made up of former WHL players from the University of Calgary and University of Lethbridge. Price stopped 17 of 18 shots he faced in his period and a half in net. His partner in the final game was Leland Irving of the WHL’s Everett Silvertips, who is also making the trip abroad, making this the third year in a row that two WHL goaltenders are representing Canada. Head coach Craig Hartsberg says he was impressed with both Price and Irving’s performance in the last game of the camp. “The last two days we saw those two guys really step up and more importantly, the last game, I thought they were both outstanding. We feel confident in both of them and we’ll make a decision as we go on who is going to be number one.” While Price is excited at the opportunity to wear Canada’s red and white once again in international competition, he’s looking forward to being Canada’s number one goaltender at the 11 day tournament. “We have to compete in every practice. We both want that number one spot and we’re going to be pushing each other to get that spot. That’s what a good team mate does. A good partner pushes the other and that makes each other better.” Price attributes his improvement over last year to his off season. He worked with a goalie coach for the first time in his career, and attended Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellent Goaltenders Camp. “As a goalie, there is something you can work on to improve your game, whether it’s positioning, skating, reflexes. I think spending time over the summer working on those things has really helped me. Ever year, you’re expected to improve, and I’m a year older, with a year more of experience.” Canada plays opening day of the tournament against the host team, Sweden on Boxing Day.
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