2023 Canada Games: Team Newfoundland & Labrador Preview

Team Newfoundland & Labrador will look to follow up a strong performance at the last Canada Games in 2019 where they finished in first place of their pool with four wins in four games in the group stages. They finished 10th out of 13 teams during the event. 

The team had the chance to perform against the other Atlantics provinces during the QMJHL Cup that was held in Dieppe earlier this season, and they showed how competitive they could be once again this year. During the tournament, they were able to beat PEI twice, and held their own against both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Team NL will bring a lot of size and physicality to the Canada Games this year, as well as a goaltender who was named best player of the Top Prospects Game during the Monctonian earlier this season in Carter Arnold. 

All the defensemen on the team are 6’ or taller. While they may be a defense oriented team, Team NL should also be able to rely on a solid power play with highly skilled forwards Ty Peddigrew, Will Carroll, Noah Boland and Mason Strong leading the way. Big forwards who play with grit and can play on two hundred feet like Jabez Seymour, Elliot Wright and Ben O’Brien should be there to support them. A wildcard on the offensive side of the ice could be underage forward Caylen Blake who looked very dynamic at the QMJHL Cup earlier this year. 

Newfoundland and Labrador should compete to finish at the top of Pool C during this year’s Canada Games with a team that should be big, physical and difficult to play against.