MONTREAL — Sam Bennett has recognized Connor McDavid since they had been little children, taking part in minor hockey as linemates earlier than the age of 10.
He was on the opposite aspect of McDavid in final 12 months’s Stanley Cup Remaining, because the Oilers stormed again from a 3-0 deficit to power a Recreation 7, with McDavid ultimately successful the Conn Smythe Trophy even after the Panthers took the collection.
So when Bennett talks about what Saturday’s USA-Canada matchup will imply to McDavid, who has not but performed in a best-on-best model of this rivalry, take him severely.
“You can tell how badly he wants to win,” Bennett mentioned after Canada practiced Friday. “He came in the locker room after the win the other night [against Sweden], he was jacked up. He was probably the most jacked up out of anyone. Just shows how badly he loves winning. It’s definitely an admirable trait he’s got.”
Phases like this are the place legends get written.
All McDavid has to do for a reminder is to look a number of stalls over in Canada’s locker room to Sidney Crosby, who scored probably the most well-known purpose of his adorned profession within the 2010 Olympic last to take gold over Staff USA.
McDavid was taking part in for the Toronto Marlies on the time, nonetheless younger sufficient to be teammates with Bennett within the Higher Toronto Hockey League.
The crew watched collectively.
“I just remember it being so exciting to see that goal go in,” McDavid mentioned. “Every Canadian was excited.”
Saturday’s match between the 2 hockey heavyweights doesn’t have the identical stakes as an Olympic last.
After each groups received their opening matches on the 4 Nations Face-Off, the winner is all however assured a spot within the last, however it’s solely doable — even possible — that there shall be a rematch between these two groups with a trophy on the road subsequent Thursday in Boston.
Nonetheless, it’s the first best-on-best match between Canada and the US in over eight years, and it’s happening amid heightened tensions between the 2 international locations, with the “Star Spangled Banner” receiving boos north of the border.
“I think the feeling I have for this game,” Bennett mentioned, “is very similar to how I felt before Game 7. Just the buildup and how badly I want this.”
For the defining participant of his era, this may very well be a defining sport.
“It’s big. It’s exciting,” McDavid mentioned. “Playing the Americans in Montreal, best-on-best tournament. It’s what you dream of.”
