Rielly Returns
The Morgan Rielly World Tour returned to Saskatchewan on Friday night after a month-long trek. Rielly was reassigned by the Toronto Maple Leafs back to the Moose Jaw Warriors in the final cut down from training camp.
It’s been a whirlwind last month for the 18-year-old defenceman after he left the Warriors for the World Junior Selection Camp on December 8th. He went with Team Canada to the World Juniors in Russia and after a fourth place finish, he went right to Toronto for the start of Maple Leafs’ training camp.
Rielly made his return to the Warriors’ line-up on Friday night in Saskatoon as he picked up one assist in a 5-4 loss to the Blades.
“Getting the chance to go to pro camp was pretty cool and having the chance to play with older guys and just having that experience is going to help me down the road,” said Rielly prior to Friday’s game.
The end result for both trips might not have been what Rielly was looking for with the fourth place finish in Russia and not making the Leafs out of camp.
Rielly says getting a chance to play for Canada was an honour, despite the end result, “The team was great and over there in Europe, half way across the world, we were enjoying ourselves and playing hard.
“We only lost one game and it cost us, and it’s hard when you’re playing against the top players in the world. Playing for Team Canada, you’re goal is always to bring home gold and that’s not what we did this year, so hopefully we can change that next year.”
Rielly was expected to come back to Moose Jaw after the World Juniors, but then the NHL Lockout ended and forced a change of plans. The week-long training camp in Toronto was an eye opening experience for the 2012 fifth overall pick.
“The jump from junior to pro is obviously quite a big one, hopefully I can make that jump in the future, and I’m just going to have to keep working on it,” stated Rielly.
“I think the pace of play was quick and obviously the players are a lot stronger up there and everyone can skate, but having the chance to play with them was pretty cool and hopefully I’ll get that chance again in the future.”
There were plenty of eyes on Rielly during Leafs camp, especially in the hockey crazed market of Toronto. “It’s tough, but as a hockey player, you have to get use to that a little bit and hopefully I can do that, but obviously it’s a huge hockey market and if you want to play in Toronto, you have to get used to it.”
While getting cut was tough for Rielly, he says his focus is back on the Warriors now, “I’m 18 and I understand that there’s a whole lot of pro hockey players out there and hopefully get a chance to go back, but I’m happy to be here with my team.
“I’m pretty blessed to be on a team that has been close and I think it’s great and I’m happy to be back.”
