PROSPECT WATCH: Dawson's December

It has been quite the December for Dawson Mercer. Currently, in the midst of his second appearance at the World Junior Championship, this tournament has been like no-other for the 19-year-old forward from Bay Roberts, Newfoundland. In a matter of weeks, he arrived with his Hockey Canada teammates in Edmonton to enter their World Junior bubble and just before taking to the ice to start the tournament, Mercer had been through a quarantine, multiple roster cuts, and signing his first NHL contract. It's been a ride.
Let's start with Hockey Canada Selection Camp.

Mercer and entered the bubble in Red Deer Alberta in late November,setting up for what would be the most unusual World Junior Championship in recent memory. With positive cases of Covid-19 around the team, the Canadian players and staff had to enter a mandatory two-week quarantine in early December. The group was in their hotel rooms, instead of on the ice.
"It was obviously another bit of adversity that we had to face," Mercer recalled, "I think that's going come along the road at any time, but I think we really pushed through it and did whatever we could, if that's workouts through Zoom meetings, just keeping in touch with everyone. And I think we did a really good job of getting through it."
While under quarantine, Hockey Canada had workout bicycles sent to each player's hotel room, an opportunity to keep their legs moving while confined to their rooms. It was time to get inventive, making sure the group of players, who play in all different club teams, continued to build chemistry away from the ice.
Head coach Andre Tourigny created a 'social committee' to keep players engaged with one another in their rooms.
One of those activities was a Bob Ross-inspired painting night.
Turns out, Mercer is quite the artist.
"That was my first painting honestly," he shared, "I had never painted, but as a kid growing up, I used to draw, and I was just something I used to do in my childhood."
The landscape Mercer painted certainly didn't look like that of someone who was just trying their hand at painting, even surprising himself a little bit.
"We had a bit of quarantine time, free time. So, when we had that contest, I, I guess it really came out of me and just showed the painting skills on display."
Mercer's along with the rest of Team Canada's paintings are being auctioned off to support local charity groups in Red Deer, where the camp was being held.
It wasn't long after that Mercer put down his paintbrush and picked up a pen.
This time, it was to sign his first NHL contract, an entry-level deal with the Devils, his first professional deal.
"I think it's a pretty unreal, really Christmas gift," he said after putting pen to paper on Christmas Eve. "This has been a dream of mine ever since I was a kid and that goes to my family too. They've been supporting me in all my decisions and helping me along the way so they got a lot of credit for this and, it's unbelievable for me and my family to have this signed and [be] one step closer to my dream."
One step closer, no doubt. But Dawson already feels part of the franchise, contract aside. He shared that Devils development coaches have been in touch with him, offering him "a lot of support" and making sure he already feels like a valued member of the franchise. A franchise he himself sees a bright future with.
"I'm very happy with, the results and what's about to come in Jersey," he said, "I'm really happy to get this deal done so I can get started for real there, to make sure that my future is going to get started pretty soon within the organization."
But for the time being, Mercer's focus is on the World Juniors with Team Canada, a group that is defending their gold medal from 2020. Mercer is one of six members on the Canadian team that has held over from last year's tournament.
Through three games, Mercer has contributed two goals, including a shorthanded goal in the opening game, and three assists. Canada is undefeated in three games and has a 29-3 goal advantage over the opponents. Off to the start that could set Mercer up for yet another milestone.
"We're going for gold, gold is our goal."