Pirate Galaxy » ing players on Canadas world junior t

Schoolchildren filled the arena by the busload on a few recent mornings. They got a kick out of watching Canadas world junior hockey team practise.Every once in a while, a few would start chanting, Mc-Da-vid! Of all the players on the ice, 17-year-old phenom Connor McDavid was the No. 1 star.But when the tournament opens Friday, McDavid wont be shouldering the burden of lifting Canada to its first world junior gold medal since 2009. Hockeys Next One badly wants to be a difference-maker, but on a team that also includes NHLers Curtis Lazar and Anthony Duclair and a handful of other returning players, he doesnt have to be.Connor is one of the 22 players who is going to be part of this team, and he is going to be an important piece, coach Benoit Groulx said. I dont feel myself as a coach that he has got to make the difference. I think Connor has got to be Connor, he has got to be himself, he has to play, he has to have fun, he has to compete, he has to challenge himself. ...I expect the team to find a way to make a difference.On the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League, McDavid is the straw that stirs the drink. Even though he hasnt played since breaking a bone in his hand Nov. 11, the Newmarket, Ont., native has 16 goals and 35 assists in 18 games.In Erie, McDavid has Dylan Strome behind him on the depth chart and Alex DeBrincat as a linemate. In Montreal and Toronto at the world junior championship, he could be the No. 2 centre behind Sam Reinhart and skate with the likes of Lazar and Robby Fabbri.McDavid is expected to be the top pick in the NHL draft in June and is considered a franchise-changing, once-in-a-generation talent. But Hockey Canadas Ryan Jankowski believes Connor could buy into any role, and McDavid hopes he can do what Sidney Crosby and others did for gold in Sochi.This is a great group of talent, everyone plays big minutes on their own team, McDavid said. You look at the Olympics: Why were they successful? Its because guys were willing to accept roles that werent necessarily the most flattering roles, but thats what wins championships. I think everyone here is willing to do that.None of this is to say McDavid wants to play second banana to Reinhart, Lazar, Duclair or anyone else. He had a goal and three assists in this tournament last year despite being just 16.And despite what Groulx said about making a difference, McDavid takes the responsibility on himself.You want to be a difference-maker every time youre on the ice, McDavid said.McDavid may be just that. New Years Eve at the Bell Centre is being billed as McDavid vs. U.S. star Jack Eichel, and its undoubtedly the tournaments matchup to watch.The McDavid/Eichel storyline tires for the prospective top two draft picks, who have never met. McDavid said he feels like he knows Eichel just from being asked about him so much.Its a little bit annoying, I guess, McDavid said. Ive never even spoken to him.McDavid answers the questions about Eichel and everything else because hes the centre of attention, at least from the outside. But McDavid doesnt big-time his teammates in the process.Hes really good about it, said Fabbri, who has played with or against McDavid since the two were seven and eight years old, respectively. Nothing gets to his head. We have some laughs about it, but other than that everyones cool.Erie Otters assistant coach and former NHL defenceman Jay McKee raves about McDavids humility, which he said rivals Crosbys. McDavid said the key is surrounding himself with good people, including his parents and agents at the Orr Group.All my friends and teammates and all that, they do a good job of keeping me grounded, he said. Just making sure youre never get too high and just treating you like a normal guy.McDavid is one of seven returning players on Canadas world junior team, along with Reinhart, Lazar, Nic Petan, Frederik Gauthier, defenceman Josh Morrissey and goaltender Zach Fucale. Because of that, Groulx and his staff could count on McDavid to be part of the leadership group, even though he wont have the C on his chest.Im still one of the youngest guys in the room, if not the youngest, said McDavid, who is captain of the Otters. But I am a returning guy. I have a little bit of experience in this tournament and Ive been there before. Maybe Im a little bit of a leader, maybe not, Im not sure. I guess thats kind of up to the other guys to decide.Chants from young fans aside, in a room full of teenage hockey players, McDavid is one of the guys. Reinhart isnt at all worried about McDavid hype overshadowing the team.I think its pretty easy in the room, Reinhart said. Hes the first guy thats going to let everyone know that. Hes good about it, everyones good about it.Groulx knows McDavid isnt just one of the 22 players on his roster, but thats how hes treating him. The coach of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey Leagues Gatineau Olympiques is in charge of more than just McDavids success.I dont think it is the Connor McDavid show, Groulx said. I think Connor is one of our good players, but he is still a young man and I think we have many returning guys on this team. Our goal is to build a team.McDavids goal is to win a gold medal. Roles could change from the opener against Slovakia through the knockout games, but he doesnt mind taking less to achieve more.Its fine, McDavid said. 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