A great way to beat the heat in the summer is with ice. Ice hockey, that is.
Fortunately for us, there’s a little bit of hockey happening, specifically the World Junior Showcase in Kamloops, BC. Even more fortunately, the games are being televised on TSN, for those of us who can’t make the trip to Kamloops.
That gives Canucks fans another chance to see Quinn Hughes, the 7th overall selection in the 2018 draft, in action. With his commitment to playing at the University of Michigan next year, he’s sure to be a cornerstone of Team USA’s medal hopes at the 2019 World Junior Championship that is taking place in Vancouver and Victoria. The World Junior Showcase gave Hockey USA, as well as Canada, Sweden, and Finland, an opportunity to get some hands-on coaching with prospective players for the tournament, as well as try out some line combinations and defence pairings.
Hughes had his moments in early split-squad action at the Showcase, but truly shone in the first unified game for Team USA, along with his younger brother, Jack Hughes, the expected first overall pick at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
Against Sweden on Thursday, the elder Hughes led the way with three primary assists, including a crazy move with seconds remaining in overtime to set up the gamewinner.
Sweden got out to a quick 2-0 lead within the first four minutes — USA goaltender Cayden Primeau had some uncharacteristic struggles in this game — before the Hughes Brothers came to ya on a dusty road, but they had a truck load of hockey skill instead of love.
Quinn made a quick move to create some space on Rickard Hugg (the undrafted scorer of both of Sweden’s first two goals), then set up brother Jack, who cut inside on Tom Hedberg and fired the puck home.
Quinn Hughes to Jack Hughes to the back of the net
— Ryan Biech (@ryanbiech) August 2, 2018
USA cuts the lead to 2-1#WJSS #Canucks pic.twitter.com/iBiHus2T4z
Sweden then made it 3-1, but Quinn Hughes and USA had a response in the second period. Hughes made it look so easy, skating around the top of the zone, then attacking as soon as Sweden’s defensive coverage left an opening. He jumped up, showed shot, then set up Jason Robertson with a wide open net.
Multiple angles of the Quintin Hughes assist (second today)#WJSS #Canucks pic.twitter.com/cKakkc4bcO
— Ryan Biech (@ryanbiech) August 2, 2018
The two teams traded a few more goals, with Team USA eventually knotting things up at 4-4 in the third period. That led to a 3-on-3 overtime, where Quinn Hughes had plenty of space to showcase his skating. Both teams had chances early, but Team USA took over in the last couple minutes. They just couldn’t find the back of the net.
That’s when Quinn Hughes took matters into his own hands.
My goodness.
— Ryan Biech (@ryanbiech) August 2, 2018
Hughes dances and dishes to Norris to win it in OT with 2.5 seconds left.
Wowzers.#Canucks pic.twitter.com/bIhNlee9WK
That’s simply an unreal play. Yes, it was 3-on-3 and it’s just a mid-summer exhibition, but that’s still some elite playmaking. Quinn dances around Marcus Sylvegård, pulls the puck around Linus Karlsson’s attempted stick check, then gives Josh Norris an easy backdoor tap-in.
The skill and vision to make that play are exceptional, of course, but it’s also the presence of mind to make that play with mere seconds on the clock. The puck went in with 1.5 seconds remaining, so Hughes knew that he didn’t have to play that conservatively; there was no chance for Sweden to go back the other way if he lost the puck.
It’s going to be tough watching Hughes make plays like this in a non-Canucks jersey, but it will just build anticipation until he signs his entry-level contract.
