It鈥檚 getting closer to the holiday season and what鈥檚 the most Canadian tradition? Watching the World Juniors of course!

Black Press Media鈥檚 Jordy Cunningham sat down with Kelowna Rockets captain Colton Dach about making the Canadian World Juniors team, how the experience has been leading up to the tournament, and more.

Cunningham (C): What was it like being told that you鈥檙e on the team?

Dach (D): It was obviously surreal, like a moment in my life I鈥檝e always wanted so it was definitely awesome to get that knock at the door and tell me I was going to be apart of the 2023 World Juniors.

C: What did you feel in that moment and what was the first thing you did?

D: First thing I did was shake their hands [the coaches] and called my parents right after, just all excitement. You know, it was just a proud moment for me.

C: What鈥檚 the experience been like for you so far leading up to the World Juniors?

D: Yeah right now were just practicing, trying to get in sync with some guys obviously. There鈥檚 guys that鈥檝e played with some guys on the team so you鈥檙e just trying to find that team chemistry and hopefully get ready for Boxing Day.

C: What鈥檚 it like getting to know the guys? Cause you know a few of the guys playing against them quite regularly but than there鈥檚 guys from other leagues around the country so what鈥檚 it like getting to know the guys?

D: Yeah, it鈥檚 awesome. I think anytime you can come to tournaments like this and meet new guys, make new friends, it鈥檚 awesome. I think it expands your horizon a little bit so its nice to meet new guys obviously and they鈥檙e a good group of guys.

C: Boxing Day, December 26th, first game of the tournament, you鈥檙e playing Czechia. Are you going to give your Kelowna Rockets teammate Gabriel Szturc a run in that game?

D: (laughs) I鈥檓 going to let him know were playing against him so he鈥檚 definitely going to know that I鈥檓 on the other side for sure.

C: How excited are you that he鈥檚 there as well at the tournament?

D: Yeah I know, it鈥檚 awesome that he gets to represent his country as well. You know it鈥檚 something we were joking about when the invitations came out, we were chirping back and forth but you know it鈥檚 going to be a fun game obviously for the few of us and can鈥檛 wait for it.

C: How many friends and family are you going to have in attendance all tournament long?

D: I think there鈥檚 a few friends and family, obviously my parents are coming down, a few aunts and uncles. Some of my buddies aren鈥檛 really going to make the trip out here but they said they鈥檙e going to be watching on tv.

C: What does it mean to you to dawn the red and white and maple leaf for your country?

D: Yeah it鈥檚 something I鈥檝e never had the opportunity to do before so I鈥檓 really thankful I get this chance to do that.

C: What are your expectations going into the tournament? Obviously Canada鈥檚 expectations are always high, the highest they can be but what are your expectations going into the tournament?

D: Yeah obviously our expectations are to win gold. I think that鈥檚 something we preach all the time is you know, being team first and win the championship so I think that鈥檚 something everyday when we wake up we鈥檙e practicing to do that.

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Dach and Team Canada open the 2023 World Juniors on Boxing Day, Dec. 26 at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time against Czechia.

Canada is in Group A with Czechia, Sweden, Germany, and Austria.

This year鈥檚 championship is taking place in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Moncton, New Brunswick.

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jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com
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