It鈥檚 a sa国际传媒-spanning junior hockey storyline like few others, in terms of distance from one Mile 0 to the other Mile 0. Alex Newhook bounced across the country, from Atlantic rock to Pacific rock, and now into Alberta to represent the host nation in the IIHF world junior championship this month in Edmonton.
鈥淔rom coast to coast, it鈥檚 been a great path and a great ride,鈥� said the former Victoria Grizzlies captain and native of St. John鈥檚, Newfoundland.
鈥淚t was a decision I chose to make and I was lucky enough to land on some great teams in great spots from Victoria to now Boston College. I am very fortunate and happy with the path I have chosen.鈥�
It isn鈥檛 the usual one for the Canadian national junior team. Newhook, linemate Dylan Holloway and goaltender Devon Levi are the three NCAA players on a roster dominated by players out of major-junior hockey, including Langford-produced goaltender Dylan Garand of the Kamloops Blazers.
The five-foot-11 Newhook, because of size and style, was always sure the Junior A and NCAA route was the right one for him.
鈥淭here was a great opportunity in Victoria to pursue my development and we have family there,鈥� he said.
鈥淭he Grizzlies allowed me to be a difference-maker right from the start.鈥�
Newhook responded by being named sa国际传媒 Hockey League top rookie followed by league-leading scorer and MVP in his two-season tenure at The Q Centre. That didn鈥檛 go unnoticed as Newhook was the 16th overall selection in the first round of the 2019 NHL draft by the Colorado Avalanche.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 say enough about the Grizzlies organization and Victoria,鈥� said Newhook.
鈥淭hey really welcomed me in and played a big role in the process of getting me here to the world junior tournament.鈥�
There was a setback along the way as Newhook was cut from the gold-medallist Canadian junior team last year. He turned it into a learning experience and quest.
鈥淚 was disappointed not making the team last year. But I had a strong finish to last season [named NCAA top rookie] and that helped me get my game to another level,鈥� he said.
Then came the pandemic. The isolation protocols have been even longer for Newhook. Because he crossed the border from Boston College, Newhook was in the midst of a regular 14-day travelers鈥� quarantine, along with Holloway and Levi, which was followed by the subsequent two-week Canadian team quarantine after two players tested positive during the selection camp held in Red Deer. The Canadian players went through yet another quarantine, this one for four days, which began when the team entered the Edmonton bubble on Sunday.
鈥淚t was crazy getting here with all the quarantine and isolation processes,鈥� said Newhook.
It was worth the hassles. The year might be unusual, but not the dream. That remains the same.
鈥淥nly a select few get to this stage to represent their country,鈥� said Newhook.
鈥淎nd it鈥檚 special representing my home province [Newfoundland].鈥�
Canadian head coach Andr茅 Tourigny has cited Newhook for his 鈥渟peed, balance and shot鈥� and described him as a 鈥渢wo-way player who has lots of energy and good spark.鈥�
The line of Newhook, Holloway and Jakob Pelletier was described as among the best in camp at Red Deer and is likely the second line for sa国际传媒 behind the Kirby Dach, Dylan Cozens, Connor McMichael unit for the world tournament.
Newhook, Holloway and Pelletier are first-round NHL draft picks, among 20 such players on the loaded Canadian team, including all 14 forwards.
鈥淲e click really well,鈥� said Holloway, of playing with Newhook and Pelletier.
The Canadian roster includes three goalies, including Garand, eight defencemen, and 14 forwards, including Newhook. sa国际传媒 plays exhibition games against Sweden on Monday and Russia on Wednesday. The world junior tournament begins Christmas Day with defending-champion sa国际传媒 opening on Boxing Day against Germany.
