For young Canadian hockey players, representing their country at the World Junior Championship is one of the highest possible honours. Calgary Hitmen defenseman, and Vancouver Canucks prospect, Jett Woo is on the cusp of potentially realizing that dream.
However, in an interesting twist, Woo's path to cementing a spot on Canada's blueline goes through not only his teammate but his defensive partner. Woo, who is representing the Western Hockey League in their pair of games against Russia as part of the annual Canada Russia Series will go toe-to-toe with Egor Zamula, a Philadelphia Flyers prospect, who he regularly mans the blue line with in Calgary.
This latest challenge comes in a period of transition for Woo. The 19-year-old came to the Hitmen via a summer trade with the Moose Jaw Warriors. While he's settled nicely into a spot on Calgary's top pairing with Zamula, his offensive production is noticeably lower as he's assumed more of a two-way role. Last season, he had 66 points in 62 games with Moose Jaw; this season, he has eight points over the first 17 games.
“I think he's a hell of a player,” said Hitmen head coach Steve Hamilton to Sporting News. “I think it was probably a natural transition in his life, the only environment he's known in junior has been Moose Jaw so he plays a different role here. He doesn't play probably the 30 minutes a night that he was used to. That's been situational differences, that's all. But he's a huge part of our team.
"I'd take him every day of the week.”
Jett Woo with two power-play helpers in the first period against his former team.
— /Cam Robinson/ (@Hockey_Robinson) October 26, 2019
Here's a look at the primary assist - great patience and execution by the defender. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/phIyn7ZTyz
Woo was one of 11 defensemen invited to represent Canada at the Summer Showcase event in late July. Although his offensive production has taken a dip, and doesn't compare well against many of the other defenders at that event, his physicality and two-way play make him a unique possibility for Canada during the short tournament that begins on Boxing Day.
For his part, Woo isn't fixated on seeing his name on the scoresheet and remains focused on playing his game.
“I grew up not worrying about the scoresheet,” the Winnipeg, Man., native told Sporting News. “I wanted to play my game. I had my dad coaching me growing up a lot and the biggest thing was play away from the puck. I think I do that well and I'm still trying to get better at it.
"Egor, he's a skilled player and he makes sure that I get the touches as well. I think we've got that chemistry going along with the rest of our D. It's been a little bit of a transition, but I enjoy playing the game that I play and just kind of adapting that with the team is the biggest thing.”
Woo, who will be joined on the WHL team by Hitmen teammate and Canucks prospect Carson Focht, joked that he'll keep an eye out for Zamula — and will try to avoid too much rough stuff during their pair of games.
“I don't think it'd be too nice if [coach Hamilton] sees me trying to run Egor and vice-versa,” said Woo. “It's going to be a fun game and we respect each other's play so it's going to be a lot of fun.”
The Canada Russia Series hits western Canada for a pair of games between the WHL and Russia beginning on Wed., Nov. 13 in Saskatoon, Sask., and commencing on Thurs., Nov. 14 in Prince Albert, Sask.