McBride's Tanner Molendyk ready for second world junior tournament

Nothing against being with all his folks back home in McBride, but Tanner Molendyk is right where he wants to be, spending the upcoming Christmas season in Ottawa.

Assuming he stays healthy, the 19-year-old Saskatoon Blades defenceman has a lock on a job playing for Team Canada in the IIHF World Junior Championship, Dec. 26-Jan.5.

A year ago Molendyk was all set to suit up for Canada in Finland but broke his wrist in the final pre-tournament game, which ruined a chance to realize his junior hockey dream.

Molendyk is back and looking forward to playing in front of full house at Canadian Tire Centre Dec. 26 when Canada opens against Finland.

“Obviously to get a second chance is huge,” Molendyk told TSN. “Last year didn’t go as planned, no one should go through that, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, but it’s nice to be back,” he said

“It was one of the hardest parts of my career, it was tough. But looking back on it I think it made me go through a learning curve and get better as a person and better as player, so I think it helped me out in the long run.

“The hunger to get back here and dominate this tournament is huge.”

Molendyk, the Nashville Predators’ first-round draft pick in 2023, picked 24th overall, is in his fourth WHL season with the Blades.

Saskatoon is a first-place team again, leading the Eastern Conference with a 17-8-2-2 record. The Blades have made it to the Eastern final the past two seasons, including their epic seven-game series loss last spring to the Moose Jaw Warriors with six of the seven games decided by overtime.

This season with the Blades Molendyk is on a point-per-game pace with four goals and 17 assists in 21 games.

In camp he’s been paired with Seattle Thunderbirds captain Sawyer Mynio, Molendyk’s minor hockey teammate when they were first-year bantams playing in Kamloops and prior to that in spring hockey.

“I kind of grew up with him my whole life,” said Molendyk.

“He’s a super guy, and our families grew up together in McBride and it’s special to have him here.”

The Canadians were eliminated from world junior medal contention at last year’s championship with a quarterfinal loss to Czechia.

Molendyk remained with the team and watched the games in Finland and Canada sorely missed having the services of one of its best skaters and top shutdown defencemen.

“That was a big loss for us last year and we really look forward to him being a big part of this year’s team because of how he plays,” said Hockey Canada Program of Excellence manager Peter Anholt. “He’s competitive, his skill level’s elite and his character is second to none.”

The Canadian juniors beat the U SPORTS All-Stars 5-2 Thursday in the first of two games and will meet them again Friday in Ottawa.

Prince George Cougars centre Riley Heidt is among the 32 players invited to the Team Canada camp.

Dan De Palma, who was born and raised in Prince George and now lives in Kamloops, where he’s the Kamloops Blazers’ goaltending consultant, is Team Canada’s goalie coach for the world junior tournament.

Canada opens its pre-tournament schedule next Thursday against Switzerland.