Stajan bringing home a lifetime of memories

There was a hint of surprise in the announcement on December 16 that Matt Stajan of the Belleville Bulls was one of 22 players named to represent Canada at the World Junior Championships in Halifax.

Stajan, who is leading the Bulls with 25 goals and 50 points this season, had never before represented his country in international competition and wasn’t at the evaluation camp last summer. But his play with Belleville this season earned him an invitation to the final camp in Nova Scotia.

“I just went into the season with high hopes and tried to do my best,” said Stajan, who grew up in Mississauga. “Just to get a shot was great and I just wanted to make the most of it.”

Stajan impressed the coaches with his work ethic in the final camp and survived the final round of cuts. Three days before his 19th birthday, Stajan was named to the team that would open the tournament against Sweden on Boxing Day.

“I had a couple of rough nights falling to sleep when the cuts were being made,” he said. “I woke up that Monday morning with the biggest smile on my face and I still have that smile on my face. It’s a privilege to be a part of this team. There are so many talented players here and it’s an honour to be a part of a great group of guys.”

Stajan was one of 13 forwards selected and the only one without a set line to start the tournament. He would be used as a penalty-killer and to fill in when needed. It was a role that he was happy to take for the honour of representing his country.

“I knew that for me to make this team I would most likely be used as a utility player, so I just came in and worked as hard as I could in camp and I made the team,” said Stajan. “It’s a role I’m willing to accept – I’m playing for Team Canada. Anything to help the team is great and I just try to do my best.”

Stajan was the most underrated player in the Eastern Conference in the OHL Coaches Poll last season. He was fourth in team scoring with 33 goals and 85 points and registered a team-high plus 36 rating. He fulfilled a boyhood dream when he was selected in the second round of last June’s NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre.

Canada’s assistant coach Mike Kelly, who previously coached in the OHL with North Bay and Windsor, was impressed by Stajan’s attitude at the selection camp.

“He’s got a lot of outstanding qualities,” Kelly said. “Maybe his best quality is that he’s an outstanding individual and human being. He works very hard and there is no question how important he is to this team.”

Stajan converted a pass from Jay McClement of the Brampton Battalion for a short-handed goal that proved to be the game-winner in Canada’s opener against Sweden. He also set up Canada’s biggest goal of the tournament so far. With the game tied in the third period of their semi-final game against the United States on Friday, Stajan fired a pass from the corner that defenceman Jeff Woywitka of the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels buried from the slot for the game-winner.

“Matt made a great play and we expect that from him because he’s a very good hockey player,” said head coach Marc Habscheid after the semi-final. “He’s a very important part of us. He’s played a lot for us in key situations in different circumstances. He’s as big a part as anybody. It was a great play made by a great player.”

Stajan is looking forward to Canada’s gold medal showdown with Russia on Sunday.

“Good teams find ways to win and hopefully we can do the same on Sunday,” he said. “It will be a great game. Everybody in that room that puts on the Canadian jersey is going to give nothing but their best. Our goal is to win gold and we won’t be happy with anything less.”

Stajan will be back in Belleville’s lineup next Wednesday when the Bulls face the Victoriaville Tigres in an interleague game that will be broadcast nationally on Rogers Sportsnet. His focus will turn to leading the Bulls into the post-season, but for Stajan, the memories of this tournament will last forever.

“It’s the time of my life – memories that I’ll have for the rest of my life,” he said. “I’m just trying to make the most of it. Hopefully at week’s end we’ll have that thing around our necks that we’ve always wanted. It’s been a great experience.”

– Aaron Bell