LAKE PLACID, N.Y. -- Sam Reinhart and Conner McDavid got their first taste of play at the international under-20 level, and while they may have been the two youngest players in camp this week for Canada, they never looked out of place in the first part of their quest to make Canada's team for the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Reinhart scored Canada's lone goal in its 5-1 loss to the United States to close the camp Saturday, giving him a goal in both games he played.
"I'm very confident with how I played," Reinhart, the early leader to be the first pick of the 2014 NHL Draft, said. "I definitely gave myself some confidence going home now."
McDavid, bidding to become the sixth 16-year-old to play for Canada at the World Junior Championship, and first since Sidney Crosby in 2004, also looked impressive. He was held off the score sheet Saturday against the United States, but had a power-play goal Thursday against Sweden.
Like Reinhart, McDavid understands this junior evaluation camp was the first step to making the WJC team, and knows he needs a strong start with his club team, the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League, if he wants to be on the team that goes to Malmo, Sweden in December.
"I thought I played all right against Sweden," he said. "[Saturday] I think was obviously a step back toward making this team, but still a long way to. I think if I can have a good start to the year I'll be all right."
Follow Adam Kimelman on Twitter: @NHLAdamK
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