Callahan Gets the Call From USA Hockey
By Kevin Parnell
When Mitchell Callahan’s telephone rang on Sunday and the man on the other end of the line was U.S. National Junior Team general manager Jim Johannson, the 19-year-old Kelowna Rockets forward was beyond excited.
Johannson was calling to invite Callahan to Albany, New York and USA Hockey’s pre tournament camp in advance of the 2011 IIHF World Junior Tournament in Buffalo, New York.
It was a call that Callahan, a native of Whittier, California, nearly forced USA Hockey to make, what with 14 goals, 16 assists and 32 penalty minutes to lead the Rockets in scoring after 28 games.
“I was pretty ecstatic (to get the call),” said Callahan. “The World Junior is something special. Every kid dreams of playing in the World Junior for their country. Even just to get a shot at making the team is pretty special to me.”
Callahan will be among 29 American juniors vying for 22 spots on the team. The camp begins Dec. 17 and includes three exhibition games against Rensselaer’s men’s ice hockey team, the Czech Republic and Norway before the team is announced.
“Mitch is a guy that came off the radar for us,” Johannson said during a live announcement of the pre tournament roster Tuesday morning. “He wasn’t at our summer camp. He’s a guy that played his way into consideration for the team. He’s well-rounded, plays a physical game, he’s a guy with some penalty minutes. He’s not afraid to mix it up.”
A gritty forward who was a walk-on to make the Rockets three years ago, Callahan knows the style of play that earned him the attention of USA Hockey.
“I think I can play all four lines,” he said. “I can be the energy guy and I can also contribute offensively. I think they like the grit that I bring, the agitating part of the game…I’m not going to back away from anybody.”
Being from sunny California, you might think the World Junior wasn’t something that Callahan paid much attention to as a kid. Not true. In fact Callahan had some tough sledding when he cheered for Team USA as a youngster as the majority of his family hails from Toronto, including his Dad.
“I grew up watching the tournament with my Dad,” said Callahan. “He is a hard core Canadian hockey fan. We always had little battles watching the game. I had to go in the other room when I would cheer for the Americans.”
Should Callahan make the Team USA roster, the Americans might find themselves with more than a few fans from north of the border.
“My Dad is really excited for me,” said Callahan. “He said it would be hard cheering for the Americans but he said as long as I make the team he’ll cheer for them but if I don’t make it he’ll be cheering for Canada.”
No doubt Rockets fans will be interested in seeing how Callahan fares. He’s been the most consistent Rockets player so far this season, willing to go to the net and into the corners, scoring big goals and dropping the gloves with all comers. Getting an invite to Team USA’s pre tournament camp is a great accomplishment.
“This would probably be the biggest accomplishment of my life if I get a chance to put on the USA jersey,” he said. “Even if I don’t make it I’m honoured. I’m going in there with a positive attitude and hoping for the best.”
Callahan will play Wednesday night with the Rockets when they host Swift Current. He will be with the team to start its five game road trip this weekend but will report to Albany, New York and the start of the Team USA pre tournament camp on Dec. 16. If all goes well he won’t be back with the Rockets until after the New Year and the conclusion of the 2011 IIHF World Junior Hockey Tournament.
