Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer, Bo Horvat about to find out Team Canada Olympic fate
NY Post
CHICAGO — This time last year, Matthew Schaefer was representing Team Canada on home soil at the World Junior Championship.
That tournament ended badly for Schaefer, who broke his collarbone, and for Canada, which finished fifth, but the 18-year-old still remembers the noise at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.
“It doesn’t even feel real when everyone’s on their feet the whole game,” Schaefer said Tuesday before he snagged an assist in the Islanders’ 3-2 shootout win over the Blackhawks. “It’s awesome.”
So, to have the chance to wear the maple leaf again, except this time for Olympic gold?
“I don’t think there’s one person in the world who would say no to their country,” Schaefer said. “Especially Canada. We got a great country, a great hockey country. If you get the opportunity, everyone would love to do that and it would be such an honor. Great experience.”
Schaefer and Bo Horvat alike will be waiting for calls from Team Canada management Wednesday morning, with Hockey Canada set to announce its Olympic roster at a press conference in Minneapolis, where World Juniors are currently being held, at noon.
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