Spirit’s Perfetti eager to help Canada defend gold
“Everything happens for a reason,” says Cole Perfetti.
Awaiting the end of quarantine in his Edmonton hotel room, the Winnipeg Jets first rounder is eager to bring his offensive expertise to Team Canada’s World Juniors lineup.
“I dreamed of this since I was really little,” said the Saginaw Spirit forward, who found out he’d made the 25-man roster on a call from his parents. “Being cut last year, I kind of got the experience but fell short. I really wanted to make the team this year and when I got the call from my parents saying I was on the team, it was one of the greatest things I’ve done in hockey so far.”
Coming off a 111-point sophomore season in Saginaw, Perfetti’s hockey IQ and standout playmaking ability are in line with Canada’s depth and flexibility. While his performance last season speaks for itself, Perfetti has been vocal about turning adversity into motivation; something he was able to do after being cut from the roster last winter.
“I couldn’t be happier with where I am today, but at the end of the day, you have to find things that will motivate you and make you want to be the best so I kind of do that and using last year, being cut, as an example, it definitely motivated me and fueled the fire for the rest of the year and going into this camp,” he said.
Cracking last year’s lineup as a draft-eligible player was going to be an uphill climb – the Saginaw Spirit standout knew that. Being cut stung nonetheless, but motivated him to prove his doubters wrong. Admittedly, it’s the kind of motivation he likes.
“I think he got better every game.”
Following Thursday’s intrasquad matchup, @HockeyCanada #WorldJuniors head coach Andre Tourigny had high praise for @SpiritHockey forward and @NHLJets prospect Cole Perfetti’s (@ColePerfetti91) performance over the course of the camp ???? pic.twitter.com/1EmOvOwLGY
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) December 12, 2020
“I like that kind of motivation. Even this year, being drafted 10th overall, there were eight teams that passed on me, I kind of like using that as motivation and as a way to get mad and find something to keep driving you and keeping making you better,” Perfetti continued.
Head coach Andre Tourigny has liked what he’s seen from the 18-year-old forward; speaking highly of his progression and ability to learn.
“I think he got better every game,” said Tourigny following the team’s final practice before heading back into quarantine ahead of the tournament. “He’s a smart kid. He wants to learn, he wants to please you, he wants to do what he needs to do. He’s a fun kid to coach. I think early in the camp, he needed to grasp the concept and get better defensively, which he did. I really like the way he plays. We moved him on a different lineup every game, he showed he can adjust.”
On a team stacked with first line go-to guys, Perfetti knows versatility is key to meeting expectations and is confident he’s able to adapt to whatever role he’s given.
“When you bring all those elite players together, everyone can’t be a first liner so you have to be able to adapt and be versatile in the lineup. That’s what I’m trying to bring,” Perfetti said. “Hopefully I can be that offensive guy that I’m used to being but if my role is to block shots, kill penalties, be a role guy, so be it and I’m going to embrace that and do it to my best ability to try to win gold.”
And while there may be a little part of him playing with a chip on his shoulder, he won’t be thinking about the past when he hits the Edmonton ice donning the maple leaf. His sights are set on defending gold.
“Last year it was an honour to be named to the camp and then obviously I wanted to make the team, but it’s ran its course. It’s different this year, it’s a completely different lineup,” said Perfetti.
“I’m kind of just thinking about the future, whatever I can do to help the team. It would definitely be nice to play very well and get a little bit of revenge for last year but at the end of the day I just want to play as good as I can and do whatever I can to win a gold medal.”
