Jr. Trappers Guimond named to Team Canada East

Team Canada bound. Jr. A Trappers defenceman Sacha Guimond holds up a Team Canada jersey after it was announced that the defenceman made Team Canada East. Photo by Chris Dawson.

Sacha Guimond may have only played 12 games of junior hockey but the slick skating Jr. Trappers defenceman from Ville-Marie, Quebec is representing Team Canada East at the World Jr. A Challenge taking place November 1st to 8th in Summerside, P.E.I.

The Jr. A Challenge is a six-team tournament includes teams from Team Canada East, Team Canada West, USA, Sweden, Russia and Belarus.

Guimond was part of an NOJHL prospect team that played in Renfrew, Ontario on August 15th. He's the only NOJHLer from that All-Star squad that made the team.

“This is a huge opportunity for Sacha,” said Jr. A Trappers head coach Ian Swalucynski.

“Sacha brings offence to our games and he will no doubt bring offence to team Canada east. It will be a thrill to watch how well he will do on a world stage. After twelve games of Junior hockey he has shown our league his offensive upside and no doubt this was one of the reasons he was picked for Team Canada East. It shows the Trappers are going in the right direction, bringing in rookies with both skill and talent.”

The 18-year-old Guimond can't believe he's getting an opportunity to represent his country in a World Class Junior Hockey event like this so early in his career.

"I'm just exciting and I think this is a big opportunity for me," said the humble Guimond during a press conference Friday afternoon at Memorial Gardens.

"I'm the only guy in the league to make the team and I am a rookie and I think that it's good news for me and the team."

Marty Abrams, General Manager for Team Canada East was impressed with what Guimond brought to the table at the selection camp plus his progress early in the NOJHL season which resulted in 2 goals and 7 assists for 9 points in his first dozen games this season.

"Not often can you find a player with the combination of size, skating and skill, this is what Sacha brings to the table," said Abrams.

"What also impressed us was that Sacha plays in all key situations for the Trappers, a top team in the NOJHL. We also know that coming from an elite Junior A franchise like North Bay, Sacha has all the intangibles, heart, coachability, character and work ethic."

The bad news for the Jr. Trappers is that he will likely miss as many as 4 games during his time with Team Canada East. However Swalucynski believes that selection is well worth it for Guimond's future in hockey which may include a NCAA Hockey scholarship.

"If he can get this much recognition after only 12 games wait for a year or wait until about 30 games when he really gets comfortable with English and comfortable with his teammates along with the town," said Swalucynski.

"We believe in him and he believes in himself that he has that much talent."