World Jr: McMillan starring
r By Patrick King – Sportsnet.ca
r
r Gabriel Bourque and Brandon McMillan, welcome to the spotlight.
r
r As is often the case at the world junior hockey championships, Bourque and McMillan’s heroics have raised their profiles from relatively unknown commodities to national heroes in a single game.
r
r It was McMillan’s turn in Canada’s latest test, a 6-0 win over Switzerland on Monday. He opened the scoring 23 seconds into the game, his first of three on the afternoon.
r
r His performance was reminiscent of Bourque’s on Saturday, when the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League star also picked up a hat trick en route to a 16-0 rout of the Latvians.
r
r Bourque tied the Canadian record with seven points in a single game, a national introduction even he couldn’t have envisioned.
r
r "My first hat trick in (my) career," Bourque said after Saturday’s game. "It couldn’t have been a better place than here."
r
r It’s safe to say he is now receiving more attention than he had previously seen in his days in Baie-Comeau. The media entourage was huge for Bourque on Saturday, just as it was for McMillan on Monday.
r
r Perhaps ironically, the biggest scrum following Monday’s game surrounded Saskatchewan product Jordan Eberle. One year ago, Eberle stood in those same shoes as one of the more unknown players on the Canadian team in Ottawa.
r
r Eberle will always be remembered for his unlikely goal, a game-tying score with just five seconds remaining in the semi-final against the Russians. He may not have been well-known entering last year’s tournament, but the product of Regina, Sask. was a national hero by the time it had concluded.
r
r "I think you look at our team and it’s unreal," Eberle said. "(McMillan is) just a hard working guy, same with Bourquey. It’s great when you see guys like that getting rewarded."
r
r It’s hardly surprising seeing players like McMillan and Bourque rising to the challenge, given their roles in the Canadian Hockey League. When the Kelowna Rockets were unable to add a veteran defender for the playoff drive, McMillan reverted back from forward to defence and didn’t look out of place.
r
r The Rockets went on to win the Western Hockey League title and came within a game of winning the Memorial Cup with McMillan serving as a big piece to the Rockets’ puzzle every step of the way.
r
r For Bourque, the spotlight was just as unlikely. Playing for the remote Drakkar in Baie-Comeau, Bourque was a big fish in a tiny sea. Bourque is looking forward to resuming life in the QMJHL once the tournament concludes, as his rights were traded to Moncton more than a week ago.
r
r With Baie-Comeau mired in a rebuilding phase, Bourque discussed the possibility of a trade with general manager Steve Ahern. Bourque, who had spent his entire career in Baie-Comeau, had just one request.
r
r "I asked, if he was going to trade me, that he could trade me to a championship-calibre team," he said.
r
r The national spotlight could soon follow Bourque in Moncton. The Wildcats are gearing up for a run at the title, which could see them play in this year’s Memorial Cup tournament.
r
r The only real question remaining is how did Bourque slip to the depths of the fifth round in last year’s National Hockey League draft. Although small at five-foot-nine and 183 pounds, Bourque is a heady player with potential as a two-way, defensive specialist.
r
r "I think that’s what the tournament’s all about; is people coming to prove themselves whether you’re first round, second or seventh (round pick)," said Ryan Ellis, a potential future teammate of Bourque’s in Nashville.
r
r But in the meantime, Bourque and McMillan will enjoy their time playing on the national world junior team. As Eberle indicated, it could be someone else’s turn to grab the attention in Canada’s next game.
r
r "All these guys are studs on their respective teams back home," said Eberle. "When they get the opportunity to play here, it’s like you have to adapt to the role and that’s what makes Canadians special."
r
