Call it a consolation prize, albeit a reward that the vast majority of 17-year-old WHL players would consider a career highlight.
Red Deer Rebels rearguard Mathew Dumba, just two days after being released from the Canadian national junior team selection camp, learned Thursday morning that he’ll play in the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Feb. 1 at Kelowna.
That Dumba was among the 40 players named to compete in the annual event featuring the top major juniors eligible for the 2012 NHL entry draft, was a virtual no-brainer considering he was the lone ‘94-born player to attend the junior nats selection camp.
“That should be very exciting. It’s an honour to get picked for that game and I’m looking forward to it,” said Dumba.
The dynamic defenceman, sure to be a high selection in the next NHL draft, was still feeling at least a tinge of pain regarding his failure to earn a spot with Team Canada for the upcoming world junior championship. He was also harbouring a pinch or pride.
“I was really disappointed, I really wanted to make that team,” he insisted. “But at the same time I left knowing that I had played my best, that I had brought everything that I could bring. In the end it just didn’t work out for me, but I was very satisfied with my game.”
Dumba never got the impression that the Team Canada coaching staff found faults with his style, with his overall game.
“I talked to all of the coaches and they were very happy with me,” he said. “But they were looking for more experience on the back end. Experience is big in that tournament, they learned that last year when the Russians had almost an entire team of 19-year-olds.
“They told me to come back next year and just do my thing . . . play like Mat Dumba can, go out there and have fun. Hopefully there will be a spot for me next year. Here’s always that possibility and I look forward to that.”
Skating with the likes of Brett Connolly and Devante Smith-Pelly, assigned to the national junior team by their NHL teams — Tampa Bay and Anaheim — was a highlight of the camp for Dumba.
“You see Smith-Pelly and Connolly on TSN playing every night in the NHL, and then you’re lined up against them. That was pretty cool,” said Dumba.
“I had some battles with Smith-Pelly and Connolly was on my team. It was pretty cool to see all there talent there, for sure. All of the guys have been drafted and most have been first-rounders. To see the talent that Canada has is amazing, and to know that I was there . . . I was really honoured.”
Dumba’s Red Deer teammate and fellow blueliner Alex Petrovic got an extra day at the selection camp and was one of the final cuts Wednesday morning, a recipient of the dreaded 6 a.m. phone call.
“I woke up about the time (the coaches) were making the calls, then kind of fell back asleep,” said the 19-year-old Florida Panthers prize prospect.
“I had a bit of a dream that I didn’t get the call and had made the team, then two seconds later I heard the phone ringing. (Roommate) Brandon Gormley picked it up and it gave it to me and I was told to meet the coaches downstairs. I knew then that it was over.”
Petrovic, like Dumba, left the camp with few — if any — regrets.
“When we got there the we had individual coach’s meetings the first day and they said they wanted me to play physical, to play a good defensive game and I think I did that to the best of my ability. I thought I was solid. I could look in the mirror at the end of the day and say I gave it my all. But I came up short. Obviously it’s not fun to get cut but it was a good experience and I’ll just live with it.”
Just notes: Dumba is one of 10 WHL players selected for the Top Prospects Game, joining defencemen Griffin Reinhart (Edmonton Oil Kings), Derek Pouliot (Portland Winterhawks), Ryan Murray (Everett Silvertips) and Damon Severson (Kelowna Rockets), and forwards Colton Sissons (Kelowna), Chandler Stephenson (Regina Pats), Lukas Sutter (Saskatoon Blades), Coda Gordon (Swift Current Broncos) and Dominik Volek (Regina). Dumba is on the Team Cherry roster . . . WHL teams will send 57 players to international competitions over the next few weeks, including the world juniors and the World Under 17 Challenge. Edmonton leads the way with six players as Mason Geertsen, Tristan Jarry and Curtis Lazar will suit up with Team Pacific in the U17 Challenge and Mark Pysyk (Canada), Martin Gernat (Slovakia) and Kristians Pelss (Latvia) will compete in the WJC at Calgary and Edmonton. The Prince George Cougars and Vancouver Giants will both lose five players to international events. The Rebels will have two players at the U17 Challenge in Team West selections Kayle Doetzel and Cory Millette.
gmeachem@www.reddeeradvocate.com