OTTAWA 鈥 A couple of decades from now, when Bradly Nadeau might be looking back on a long career as one of the worldsa国际传媒 top pro hockey players, he鈥檒l be able to point to two critical years in Penticton as the start of it all.
For the moment, the 19-year-old New Brunswick native is feeling the sting of Canadasa国际传媒 early departure from the World Junior Hockey Championship, after Czechia defeated Canada in the quarterfinals Thursday for the second straight year.
Nadeau played a starring role for Team Canada. He was the only player on the team to score two goals, including one in the quarterfinal. Playing on Canadasa国际传媒 top line, he also scored Canadasa国际传媒 lone goal against Team USA. In total, he played an average of more than 15 minutes per game, registering nine shots on goal.
With the tournament over, he is returning to the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League to continue his development. Sooner rather than later, hesa国际传媒 expected to be playing in the NHL, after he was a first-round draft pick of the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2023 entry draft.
鈥淚 think it was really good for me to be in Penticton,鈥 said Nadeau at the World Juniors, as he reflected back on 2021 to 2023 when he was a BCHL MVP with the Vees, before going to the University of Maine for a season ahead of his pro debut this year in Chicago. 鈥淢y two years I got a lot of playing time, a lot of puck touches, which is kind of how you work on your game. I played in all the situations, so I learned a lot while playing there. I鈥檓 really grateful that the organization gave me that chance and obviously I owe them a lot for what they did for me. It was amazing being there.鈥
He added that he is happy the people he got to know in Penticton have been able to watch him perform on TV at the World Juniors, in the most important games of his career to date.聽
鈥淭heresa国际传媒 still people there obviously that are watching, and right before I came here, they reached out and said good luck and that they鈥檒l be watching,鈥 explained Nadeau, who in the 2022-2023 season led the BCHL in scoring with 45 goals and 68 assists for 113 points, the highest total in the league since 2015-16. 鈥淚tsa国际传媒 an amazing feeling to know that they鈥檙e still there supporting me. Obviously, as a player, you play the game, but to know someone is there behind you is an amazing feeling.鈥
聽Nadeau described how it was a very challenging transition to travel all the way across the country to Penticton as a young teen to pursue his hockey dream, but that it was made much easier by having his older brother Josh alongside him on the Vees. The elder Nadeau also left Penticton for the University of Maine, where he remains this season.
鈥淚 think he was in front of the TV watching all of Canadasa国际传媒 games, except on the night when he had to play a game,鈥 said the younger Nadeau, who was the first Vee since future NHLer Tyson Jost in 2016 to be named the leaguesa国际传媒 top player. 鈥淗e sends me a text after to let me know how he thought I played. Hesa国际传媒 been pretty excited for me, which is fun to see, just because he has been my teammate the last three years. So, itsa国际传媒 a little more special to know that.鈥澛
As for his experience wearing the Maple Leaf at the tournament, Nadeau said it was beyond a dream come true.
鈥淚tsa国际传媒 one of the biggest stages in the world,鈥 he said. 鈥淥bviously, I was expecting it to be amazing when I came here. You always watch it on TV growing up, and now that I鈥檓 finally here, I think itsa国际传媒 more amazing than I expected. All the fans in Canada here are unbelievable. Itsa国际传媒 a really good group. Itsa国际传媒 fun being around those players. You learn a lot from playing with high-end skilled players like that.鈥
Most importantly, he noted, it has made him a better player for when he returns to Chicago, where he has six goals and nine assists in 22 games so far this year.
鈥淚鈥檒l take a lot, just from how they play, how our team plays, how other players on other teams play, so I can see what they do and obviously you can always add tools to your toolbox. Also, itsa国际传媒 a lot of games in a few days so itsa国际传媒 also how to manage your body, how to make sure you鈥檙e ready to go every day. The pro season is a long season, so thatsa国际传媒 another thing I鈥檒l be able to take away. So, I think altogether, I鈥檒l be able to take a lot.鈥澛
He added that he is not on any specific timeline to join the Hurricanes in the NHL, but he knows that day will come soon enough.
鈥淚 want to be there when I鈥檓 ready,鈥 he said. 鈥淥bviously, Carolina has the decision, but I think whenever I feel ready, thatsa国际传媒 going to be the best time to go and obviously help them win some games once I make the step.鈥
Another Vee, Simon Meier, was also at the tournament. Representing Team Switzerland, Meier had a goal and two assists in five tournament games which included a 7-2 quarterfinal loss to the Americans on Thursday.
