Twins great Morneau provides ‘good advice’ and fires up Team Canada

Team Canada plays Denmark Dec. 29.

Team Canada skated at 3M Arena in Minneapolis on Monday.

Former Minnesota Twins great Justin Morneau attended Team Canada’s morning skate and gave the players a pep talk afterwards.

“I told the guys in the room, I used to set my alarm and we used to get together when the tournaments were overseas and watch them at 3 a.m. on the West Coast,” the native of New Westminster, B.C. said. “It’s something that’s somewhat surreal. I’ve got to do a lot of really cool things in the course of my life, but being around this team and being around something that means so much to Canadians, it’s pretty special.”

The 2006 American League MVP, who lives in Minneapolis with his family that includes five kids aged six to 15, delivered a simple message to the players.

“Everyone plays on their first line wherever they come from so just sort of understanding that playing for the country, playing for each other, no matter who gets the success, as long as the success is there, that’s all that really matters,” Morneau said.

“He gave us a good speech,” said left winger Gavin McKenna. “Just telling us to do it for the country and not the name on the back of the jersey. Obviously, that’s some good advice.”

Morneau, who works as an analyst on Twins broadcasts during the baseball season, noted this is probably a familiar message, but sometimes it resonates more when it comes from a new voice or unfamiliar source.

Players enjoyed hearing that Morneau once had a promising hockey career. He was the third goalie on the Portland Winterhawks when they won the 1998 Memorial Cup.

“Kind of a cool little fact about him there,” said defenceman Keaton Verhoeff. “So just kind of having him around today was pretty awesome. He gave us a little bit of words of wisdom and told us some stories.”

Morneau wore 33 in honour of his favourite player Patrick Roy and Team Canada presented him with a personalized No. 33 Team Canada sweater on Monday.

Morneau attended the Boxing Day game against Czechia, but will not be in attendance on Monday when Canada takes on Denmark.

Former Major League Baseball player Justin Morneau had a chance to take in Canada’s morning skate ahead of their game against Denmark and also spoke to the team to share a special message as they embark on a journey to reclaim gold.

Canada’s captain is ready to move on after a controversial start to the tournament.

“I’m perfectly good now,” right winger Porter Martone said. “I’ve moved on from it. I’ve addressed everything and it’s time to move on now.”

Martone received a formal warning from the IIHF disciplinary panel for crossing the red line and bumping into a Czech player during warm-ups on Boxing Day. He was called for unsportsmanlike conduct for tapping Adam Novotny on the back side as he skated by the Czech bench after scoring the empty-net goal that night. Martone apologized for both infractions and took responsibility for Canada leaving the ice without shaking hands with the Czechs after the game.

Martone insists that wearing the ‘C’ does not bring any extra pressure.

“I’ve been a leader on different occasions, and that’s kind of the way I was raised from my parents and the core values I have,” the Philadelphia Flyers prospect said. “I wouldn’t say it’s a pressure. It’s a privilege. I get to be captain of Team Canada and I’m excited to continue to lead these guys and hopefully lead us to a gold medal.”

On the ice, Martone is focused on rounding his game into form. The empty-net goal against Czechia is his only point so far.

“Definitely I think I have another gear in my game,” the Michigan State freshman said. “I feel like I can bring more [to] the table to help this team win.”

Martone and linemates Tij Iginla and Michael Misa held a meeting to discuss the state of their game. On Sunday, Misa admitted he needed to shoot more after landing just three shots in two outings.

“We expect more from ourselves,” Martone said. “It’s not like we’re not getting chances. It’s not like we’re not playing well, but we still think we have another gear to help this team in different ways.”

Martone has yet to establish the power-forward game, which allowed him to make a smooth transition to the NCAA this season.

“Be just a more dominant presence,” Martone said of the next level for him. “I think I can make some more plays, work with my linemates a bit more. I think that comes with just keeping it simpler sometimes. You try and make fancy plays with all the skill we have on our line. We talked about it as a line and about really supporting each other with some give and gos. I know we’re ready and I know I can make a bigger difference through the rest of this tournament.”

Porter Martone has had a rough start to this year’s World Juniors but everything is in the past now for Team Canada’s captain as he wants to help his squad reach another level, starting tonight against Denmark.

Give-and-go plays have not been an issue for Canada’s second line as McKenna, a freshman at Penn State, and Michigan Wolverines centre Michael Hage have hit it off.

“I just kind of have a good feeling of what he’s trying to do with the puck and how he’s trying to create space for himself and then just where open ice is,” Hage said. “I feel like he does a good job getting open for me as well, so it just kind of goes back and forth in that sense.”

Hage and McKenna are tied for the team scoring lead with four points each.

The pair are building chemistry off the ice by playing the NHL video game.

“He’s a pretty energetic guy,” McKenna said. “He’s fun to be around. Yeah, we’ve been playing some NHL back at the hotel. We’re 1-1 against each other and had some good battles.”

The last video game battle went to triple overtime with Hage coming out on top.

“I’m the best on the team,” Hage declared deadpan. “Not very many guys give me a challenge, I mean [Liam] Greentree is pretty good. Gavin’s pretty good. Iggy doesn’t really stand a chance. So, yeah, just trying to continue to get better in that aspect of my life.”

Battles have been won and lost between Gavin McKenna and Michael Hage in NHL 26. The chemistry has been growing on and off the ice with the two talented players, who also share a similar mindset when reading the game.

The only issue for Hage so far at the World Juniors is at the dot. He won just 36 per cent of his draws against Latvia after winning just 16 per cent against Czechia.

Hage spent extra time working on faceoffs with Hockey Canada consultant Mike Eagles at the end of Canada’s skate on Monday morning.

“Not going to give away all his tips, but he’s smart,” said Hage.

“I think he might have a good night tonight on it,” said coach Dale Hunter.

Verhoeff is poised to make his World Junior debut after sitting out the first two games as a healthy scratch.

“To get into a game is pretty special,” the 17-year-old from Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. said. “It’s something I’ve been looking forward to for a while.”

Did Verhoeff wonder if this chance would come?

“You’re always kind of wondering,” the University of North Dakota freshman said. “You never know for sure. It’s obviously a short competition, so things can change. I was just kind of skating and working out and making sure I’m ready if my name did get called, and to have it called today is pretty special.”

Asked what he wanted to see from Verhoeff, Hunter said he was looking for sound defensive play.

“He’s an offensive ‘D’, but you gotta be smart when you play and [play] within the structure of the game,” Hunter said.

Keaton Verhoeff has yet to play in this year’s World Juniors and while it hasn’t been confirmed by head coach Dale Hunter, he is expected to play against Denmark Monday night. The 17-year-old spoke about what the best version of himself looks like on the ice.

Verhoeff last played in the final pre-tournament game on Dec. 23 when Canada beat Denmark 13-2.

Hunter quickly noted that the Danes are playing a tighter style since the actual tournament began.

“There’s no longer those blowout games,” Verhoeff stressed. “Every team is going to be able to compete, and every team is going to go out there and give their best effort, especially against Canada. So, having that kind of target on our back is something that we enjoy. We’re looking forward to being able to prove the rest of the country right. Not so much prove them wrong, just prove them right that Canada is the country to beat.”

Before the morning skate started, Hunter took some time to show Canada’s defencemen how they can create scoring chances by shooting wide and taking advantage of the lively end boards inside 3M Arena.

“When the teams eye up to block, they’re good blockers,” Hunter said. “Last game they blocked a lot of shots, so you gotta bypass them and see where the puck bounces off the boards and try to get it out in the slot. There’s a nice area there that you can [hit and] get out to the slot.”

Canada’s tight win over Latvia was made more difficult as its offence had trouble finding space in the middle of the ice with all the shots being blocked. TSN’s Mark Masters has more on Dale Hunter’s creative way to bypass the traffic ahead of Monday’s game against Denmark.

Canada did not run lines at the morning skate and Hunter declined to reveal his lineup.

Carter George was the first goalie off the ice and is projected to start against Denmark.

Power play units at Canada’s morning skate:

PP1

MacKenzie, McKenna, Reschny, Hage, Martin

PP2

Parekh, Martone, Luchanko, Misa, Iginla