If notoriety alone was the main factor deciding who makes Team Canada’s roster for the World Junior Hockey Championship, Moose Jaw Warriors forward Jagger Firkus would be an absolute lock to be playing for Canada in Gothenburg, Sweden.
The Seattle Kraken prospect has become renowned for his flash and dash on the ice, and he has the numbers to show for it -- with 25 goals and 50 points in only 27 games this season, Firkus spent much of November leading the Western Hockey League in scoring.
It’s even got the point that when he puts up three goals or five points in a game, the Warriors sell special edition ‘Firkus Circus’ t-shirts.
But the World Junior selection camp’s history is littered with players who have dominated the Canadian Hockey League in the lead-up, only to fall short when the final roster is announced -- something Firkus plans to do everything in his power to not be a part of.
“Obviously I’m super happy I have a chance to go to camp and when I get there I have to show that I have the skill and work ethic to make the team,” Firkus said after practice Thursday. “But just to have the chance to go there and make the team is a great opportunity for me and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Firkus came into the season looking to be a league leader in offence and put together the kind of start that any player would dream of. That was the goal all along, with the idea of catching the eye of Hockey Canada always in the back of the mind.
“Coming into the season you want to keep the pro habits I picked up in Seattle and I think I’ve done a pretty good job of that throughout the year,” Firkus said. “That’s a big reason I got invited to camp, to show that I kept working and they like to see that, so now I have to show I can do the same on the big stage.”
Firkus isn’t a Hockey Canada darling like many of his potential Team Canada teammates, Denton Mateychuk and Brayden Yager included. But that’s all the more reason to work as hard as he can during the three-day event beginning Dec. 10 in Oakville, Ont.
“You have to go in there and treat it like just another camp no matter who you are,” Firkus said. “I always have confidence and am pretty good at keeping my confidence, so I’ll just do the same, play my game and go from there… I have to go into camp and treat it like I’m on the bubble, make sure I prove myself just like every other guy there.”
To crack the roster would naturally be a dream come true.
“It’s something you dream about since you were a little kid and if I get the opportunity I’ll make the most of it,” Firkus said. “It’s a huge stage, so you have to make sure you’re mentally prepared for it, and if I get the opportunity I plan to make the most of it.”
The camp will include a pair of games against the USports All Stars -- including former Warrior goaltender and Brock University standout Connor Ungar -- on Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. and Dec. 13 at 11 a.m.
Canada’s National Junior Team will travel to Malmo, Sweden on Dec. 14 for a pre-tournament camp ahead of the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship. As part of its preparations, Canada will open its pre-tournament schedule against a U25 team from Denmark on Dec. 19 before facing Switzerland on Dec. 22 and the United States on Dec. 23.
The 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship begins on Boxing Day when Canada takes on Finland at 7:30 a.m. Moose Jaw time.
