2015 WJC Archive:
The Truth About Jack Eichel
USA Announces Preliminary Roster
USA Injury Update
Questions Abound for Team USA as Selection Camp Begins
Team USA Selection Camp Video Podcast
Santini Learning Through Adversity
Watch & listen to Mike Morreale from NHL.com and I blather about Team USA after the second day of on ice action at USA Hockey's National Junior Team Selection Camp in preparation of the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship.
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When USA Hockey announced their preliminary roster for the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship, there were the names you expected to be there - Jack Eichel, Dylan Larkin, Noah Hanifin, Thatcher Demko, etc - and then….there was one name that made most of us say, …who?
Miles Wood is a 19-year-old senior at Noble and Greenough - a high school in Massachusetts - who has committed to play next season at Boston College and was drafted two years ago by the New Jersey Devils in the fourth round of the NHL Draft. His father, Randy, played four years at Yale before a ten year NHL career with the Islanders, Sabres, Maple Leafs and Stars.
"We knew about him," said USA General Manager Jim Johannson at the start of Team USA's selection camp in Boston on Tuesday. "The hard part of our evaluation camp in the summer is that we use it to make a lot of determinations about who we're going to track in the fall. I think Miles' playing situation factored into him not coming to Lake Placid. I mean, the guy's going to be at Nobles - and nothing against Nobles - it's just such a different level of hockey compared to what everyone else was playing, but as we got out watching a lot of players in the fall, the more and more we came back saying here's a player who's a great skater with the right kind of recklessness to his game. He's a big, strong kid. He's a 19-year-old - he's not a young kid playing prep school hockey - and I know his camp with NJ went well and the more we thought about it the more we said, we have to get him to this level of competition and see if his game rises up instead of just watching him play at the prep school level."
So here he is playing with the best American players under the age of 20.
"I never thought playing on this team in this tournament was ever a possibility until my family advisor told me in September that they were going to start watching me play more to see if I should come to this camp," explained Wood. "Then I got the call from Jim Johannson and I was so shocked and surprised, but I was so thankful for the opportunity they were giving me. Only 17 forwards in the entire US get to come here and I'm one of them. I'm truly blessed to be here."
Having never participated in any USA events, the only person he knows is Steve Santini, who was also selected by the New Jersey Devils in the 2013 NHL Draft.
"It's so weird because most of these guys know each other from playing with or against each other and I'm just the guy laying low in the corner scoping out the scene," he laughed. "I'm just trying to soak it all in and make some friends too…there are a lot of BC guys here. So, it's nice to get to know some future teammates a little bit better too. Steve's really taken me under his wing and been very helpful."
Much like the powers that be at USA Hockey, Wood is also eager to see how he stacks up to the rest of the guys on this roster.
"These guys are all top players on their respective teams and it's good for me to see where I stack up against them and where I have to go and where I have to bring my game to match them, so it's been very good for me in that way," he explained. "Playing high school hockey, I'm usually the guy the team relies on to score, but here they already have the Jacks and the Larkins. Being here at this camp has shown me that D-zone is such a big part of this game and for me to make this team, I have to play really well in the D-zone and just compete as hard as I can. The speed is definitely a little faster and the guys are much stronger than the high school guys I play against. I just have to rely on my speed and my hockey sense and see how things go. Just as long as I compete on the forecheck, backcheck and do all the small things well, I should be ok. All the kids here are here because they're great players. They're first round picks or second round picks and just to be associated with such a great group of USA hockey players is a true blessing and I'm thankful for the opportunity they've handed me."
Wood is also thankful for the free gear.
"This is the first time I've ever gotten free stuff in my life! It's awesome…especially with the crest on it," he smiled while taking a glance at the USA emblem on his chest. "It's so special and such an honor to be able to wear it."
So while his teammates at Nobles are battling it out against Salisbury School tonight in the Flood-Marr Holiday Hockey Tournament featuring teams from eight prep schools in Massachusetts, Wood will be battling it out with Team USA against Boston University as he fights for a roster spot and a chance to compete at the World Junior Championship.
"My teammates are pretty bummed I can't play with them this weekend, but I'm hoping I won't be able to play with them for a couple weeks," Wood said with a hopeful smile. "They're very excited for me. My phone has been going crazy - friends, family, family friends, friends of my dad….people I haven't talked to in awhile. This past month has been crazy. Just knowing how much they are supporting me and excited for me…it's truly great. I had no idea I had so much support out there," Wood said.
The winger will slot in as the 13th forward in tonight's match up and hopes to use his 6'1, 195 pound frame and smooth skating to compete hard in all three zones and make his case for a longer look by the decision makers at USA Hockey. There will be some cuts tomorrow morning before the team heads up to Kingston, Ontario for pre-tournament games against Germany on Sunday and Sweden on Tuesday before the final roster is determined.
"I know my path in hockey has been strange, but if you prepare yourself each and every day, it doesn't matter where you play, people will recognize your talents and you'll get your opportunities. Just like this…USA is willing to go out of their comfort zone and take a chance on a high school kid and hopefully I can show that it doesn't matter where you play, as long as you compete and play your hardest, things will hopefully work out," said Wood. "Pressure is self induced. I don't have any pressure. I'm here to have fun and play hockey as best I can and at the end of the day, if they call on me, I'm going to be prepared to go up to Canada and see if we can win the gold."
You can watch Wood and the rest of Team USA take on BU at 7:30ET through a free stream on www.GoTerriers.com
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Julie
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