Couture looks forward to another shot at the Russians
r
Logan Couture has some added incentive to play in the World Junior Championships this season.
r
r
The Ottawa 67’s captain has represented Canada at the Under-18 level and would love nothing more than to get the chance to suit up for his country for the 2008 World Junior Championships on home ice in Ottawa this Christmas.
r
r
Couture has called Ottawa home for the past four hockey seasons and said that playing for Canada at this year’s tournament would be a special accomplishment.
r
r
“It would be unbelievable,” Couture said. “The fans in Ottawa are already awesome. If you go to a Sens game or a 67’s game you just see how much they love hockey in Ottawa and to have a World Junior Championship there just fits right. The fans in Ottawa support hockey so well and to have a World Junior there should be pretty amazing.”
r
r
Couture is playing in the ADT Canada-Russia Challenge for the second time and looks forward to using tonight’s game against the Russian Selects (7:00 p.m. Eastern on Rogers Sportsnet) to solidify his chances of being invited to Canada’s final selection camp next month. Couture is also playing in Monday’s game in Niagara (7:00 p.m. on Rogers Sportsnet).
r
r
“I’m just trying to make a positive impression,” Couture said. “This is my fourth game here so I’ve got a little bit of experience. I’m sure the younger guys know that and I want to be there in case they have any questions about what it’s going to be like playing the Russians. I’m going to do everything I can to get an invite to the camp in December so that’s what I’m doing here.”
r
r
Couture has already played in three ADT series games and said that it helps to come into the event knowing what to expect on and off the ice.
r
r
“I remember my first game in Oshawa I was really nervous and didn’t know what to expect,” said Couture, who has four assists in three series games. “But now that I’m here and I’ve played a couple of games, I know what to expect. I know how the Russians play so it definitely helps.”
r
r
Couture, who has four goals and 18 points in 18 games with the 67’s this season, and the 19-year-old from London hopes to get a chance to represent Canada again this Christmas.
r
r
“Every time I’ve been with Hockey Canada – whether it was Under-17 or Under-18 – I’ve had a lot of fun,” Couture said. “I’ve played with a lot of great players – a bunch that are in the NHL right now. Tournaments like this help you develop as a player and obviously it helped those guys like Sam Gagner, Luke Schenn, Drew Doughty get to the NHL. Experience like this would be great for me.”
r