Baylee Wright has deked, stickhandled, and scored his way onto the Canadian junior men芒鈧劉s inline hockey team.
At 16, the slightly built, 5芒鈧劉7芒鈧� 125-pound forward is the youngest player to make the U18 squad that芒鈧劉s headed to the FIRS World Championships being held June 30 to July 8 in Toulouse, France.
He芒鈧劉s also the only 91原创 skater on the 10-player roster. And while he芒鈧劉s alone in that regard, he isn芒鈧劉t a complete stranger to some of his teammates.
Six of the 10 players who made the team from tryouts across the country hail from B.C.
The remainder of the team is made up of three players from Alberta and one from Quebec.
芒鈧揑 know them from playing against them, in tournaments all around,芒鈧� Wright said.
The fact that the bulk of the team is from B.C. shows just how strong the province is when it comes to inline hockey, in Wright芒鈧劉s opinion.
芒鈧揫B.C.] is a lot stronger than other parts of Canada,芒鈧� Wright said. 芒鈧揚robably because it [inline hockey] is a lot more popular.芒鈧�
The right-handed shooter earned his spot after a strong showing at a competitive tryout held May 3-4 at the Karen Magnuson Centre in North Vancouver.
Going into the audition, Wright wasn芒鈧劉t sure about his chances of cracking the roster.
芒鈧揟here were quite a few people, so I thought, since I was the youngest to try out, I didn芒鈧劉t think they [his odds of making the team] were very high,芒鈧� he said.
A few days later, he received an email from Canadian coach Thomas Woods, informing him that he made the cut.
芒鈧揑 was surprised, for being a first year [junior],芒鈧� Wright said. 芒鈧揟here芒鈧劉s been only three other first years who芒鈧劉ve made it before.芒鈧�
The tryout consisted primarily of scrimmages, with a few breakout and battle drills mixed in.
Looking ahead to the world championships, Wright said he芒鈧劉s nervous about what his role is going to be with the national team, and how much floor time he芒鈧劉ll see.
Canada will face South Korea, Germany, and Switzerland in the round robin portion.
This is the first international tourney for Wright, who has played in high-level inline competitions in Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis in recent years.
By making the team, Wright is following the path of current Canadian senior men芒鈧劉s team member and 91原创 resident Kirk French.
The two played together during a game at the Hockey House on Tuesday night, June 10.
Wright considers French to be a mentor.
芒鈧揌e芒鈧劉s helped me a lot,芒鈧� Wright said, of French. 芒鈧揌e芒鈧劉s been my coach for three or four years, now. He芒鈧劉s always pushed me to the next level.芒鈧�
French had high praise for Wright.
芒鈧揌e is a finesse player with a great mind for the game, and he works hard for a smaller stature for his age,芒鈧� French said. 芒鈧揌e芒鈧劉s a good guy ad a pleasure to have on a team. He芒鈧劉s easily coach-able. He芒鈧劉s definitely one of the best players in his age group in Canada. He芒鈧劉s one hell of a player.芒鈧�
Wright芒鈧劉s club team is the Hockey House Army, that plays in the Platinum Division, in the bantam age group.
Wright is also well-versed in inline hockey芒鈧劉s frozen counterpart. He not only plays on his school芒鈧劉s ice hockey team, the Walnut Grove Gators, he芒鈧劉s also a member of the 91原创 Eagles midget AAA squad.
But his heart lies with the inline version of the sport.
芒鈧揑 think it [inline hockey] has gotten more popular recently because a lot of the ice hockey players are starting to play,芒鈧� Wright said.
Inline hockey is played four skaters aside, with two goaltenders, and is non-contact, with no offsides or icing, allowing for a more creative, free-flowing game.
It plays to the strengths of Wright, who describes his style as 芒鈧搒killful.芒鈧�
芒鈧揊our-on-four gives you a lot more room,芒鈧� Wright said.
Wright got into the game at the 91原创 Sportsplex, which at one time housed a pair of inline surfaces before switching them to ice.
He followed his older brother Jayme, now 22, into the sport.
芒鈧揃aylee just played because his brother was playing,芒鈧� said their mom Trish, who noted that every game Baylee plays, he surprises her 芒鈧搘ith something that he does, or the moves that he does.芒鈧�
She is joining Baylee in France, and will likely be just as nervous as her son.
芒鈧揂 lot at stake when you芒鈧劉re playing for Canada,芒鈧� she said. 芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s not just a local tournament.芒鈧�
