Henry Mews, all of 16 years old and six months, looked right at home running the Ottawa 67’s power play at Friday morning’s workout.
Without question, big things are expected from the flashy forward-turned-defenceman, selected seventh overall by the 67’s at the Ontario Hockey League’s Priority Selection draft in April.
Mews isn’t hiding from the expectations, recognizing where his strengths are. Last season, he scored 14 goals and 64 assists in 52 games with the Toronto Junior Canadians.
“I’m looking to contribute to the team success and play a big role,” said Mews, a Nepean native. “For example, on the power play and to contribute to the offence. Hopefully, I can put up some big numbers as a rookie. I’m looking to make a statement and help this team win and make a big impact.”
The guy in charge of managing how fast Mews will develop is 67’s coach Dave Cameron, fresh from leading Canada to world junior gold in the summer.
“The most exciting thing for me is how competitive he is,” said Cameron.
“He has elite vision and he sees the ice really well. When you bring that to the table, he’s going to reach his potential. He just has to guard against, like all young guys do coming in, is don’t try to play your whole career every game. There’s a learning curve. We have a lot of returning defenceman, so there’s absolutely no pressure on him right now.”
Accordingly, Cameron says that there’s not necessarily any rush to put the power play spotlight on the young defenceman.
“There’s nothing handed here,” he said. “(Mews) will be like the other guys. He’ll audition. As a young guy, he’s going to have ups and downs. When he’s not on his game, he probably won’t be on the power play. He’s just like every other guy who comes in, a work in progress. There will be games where he’ll think ‘this is easy’. And then there will be other games where it’s ‘woah’. We fully expect that.”
In his first two pre-season games, Mews says there has been an adjustment in catching up to the size, speed and physical nature of the OHL, where “guys finish their checks more.”
He’s also learning on the fly by watching veterans including defenceman Jack Matier. Matier, a fourth round selection by the Nashville Predators, is entering his third OHL season.
“We only lost two guys from last year,” said Mews. “They had a lot of young guys last year and I think they have more experience now. Hopefully, our big guys teach us and contribute big for us.”
Some of those marquee names will get their taste of the next level next week.
Following a Saturday exhibition game against the Olympiques in Gatineau and a fan-friendly skills competition at TD Place Sunday — doors open at 11:30 a.m. — the NHL-drafted veterans will leave for big-league rookie camps.
That group includes Matier, Senators first round pick Tyler Boucher and Calgary Flames sixth rounder Jack Beck. Unfortunately for Vincent Rohrer, drafted 75th overall the Montreal Canadiens in the summer, he’ll be unable to attend the NHL camp due to an injury. Rohrer took a puck in the face is expected to be out for four weeks.
Cameron says he feels disappointed for Rohrer, an Austrian who emerged as a star in the second half of the season.
After Rohrer’s Austrian team played against the Cameron-coached Canadian squad before Christmas — the tournament was ultimately postponed to the summer due to COVID-19 complications — the 67’s coach got a better taste for what he was all about.
“He was one of (Austria’s) best players, not at all intimidated and I knew at that point that this guy is going to take it to a different level,” said Cameron.
“His confidence level went through the roof.”
With Rohrer expected to be out for four weeks, he likely won’t be back for the 67’s season opener Sept. 30 in Oshawa against the Generals.
Big picture, though, the 67’s carry the potential of going deep into the post-season. They were eliminated in the first round last spring.
“We were really young last year,” said Cameron. “I think there will be some real growth in the young guys who are coming back. How much? You never know. That’s the exciting thing about junior. One year at this age, 17-18, you see a huge change, size-wise, confidence-wise. In just one year, they’re more mature.
“All those things are probably going to carry over in their games and we’re excited.”
After trading goaltender Will Cranley to the Flint Firebirds in the summer, the 67’s will be flying with the tandem of Max Donoso and Collin McKenzie.
Last season, Donoso went 11-9-6 with a 2.82 goals against average and .906 save percentage, while McKenzie owned a 4-0-0 record with a 3.83 average and .845 save percentage.
“We’re a young team and they’ve got to be better (than our goaltending last season),” Cameron said. “There’s no reason to think they won’t be.”
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