Bordeleau excited for third chance to play with United States at WJC
Sharks forward believes 'real, competitive hockey' will prepare him for NHL camp
The 20-year-old center, who had five assists in eight NHL games after signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks on April 16, could be getting ready for training camp instead of playing in Edmonton from Aug. 9-20.
"It's pretty simple," Bordeleau said at the National Junior Evaluation Camp at USA Hockey Arena last week. "I think just getting a chance to represent my country again. Obviously, what happened to me those two times was pretty unfortunate, so kind of my shot at redemption here."
What happened?
Basically, the coronavirus pandemic cost Bordeleau two chances to play at World Juniors. This is his third and final shot.
The 2021 WJC was to be held in a bubble in Edmonton from Dec. 25, 2020, to Jan. 5, 2021. The day before the team left for the tournament, Bordeleau's roommate, center John Beecher, tested positive for COVID-19. Since Bordeleau was a close contact, both players were ruled out of the tournament, even though Beecher later tested negative.
The United States went on to win the gold medal.
Bordeleau then tested positive for COVID-19 himself before the 2022 WJC, which was originally scheduled to be played in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, from Dec. 26, 2021, to Jan. 5, 2022. However, after the United States played one game, the tournament was canceled on Dec. 29 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. It was later rescheduled on March 19.
Now, the tournament will start over, and so will Bordeleau. NHL Network will air each of the preliminary round games the United States plays, as well as select other games.
"I think it will just be good for me to play some real hockey, real, competitive hockey, not just summer hockey, before my NHL camp," Bordeleau said. "It's going to be exciting."
Bordeleau had 37 points (12 goals, 25 assists) in 37 games as a sophomore for the University of Michigan last season. After the Wolverines were eliminated by the University of Denver in the Frozen Four, he signed an amateur tryout agreement with San Jose of the American Hockey League on April 12. Four days later, Bordeleau signed with the Sharks and was called up to the NHL.
He learned quick what he had to do to succeed at the next level.
"I think it's all about consistency, and there's no room for a mistake, basically," said Bordeleau, a second-round pick (No. 38) in the 2020 NHL Draft. "You know, you loop once, it's in the back of your net. In college, I could get away with it. In juniors also. But there, you can't [mess] up or you're really in trouble.
"Yeah, I think that was the biggest thing, honestly. Obviously, with the puck, that's kind of my strength, just making plays and stuff like that, and obviously I've got to definitely make plays quicker. Just my execution has to be a lot faster all around. But the defensive side is the biggest adjustment, for sure."
Bordeleau went on to play with the United States this summer at the 2022 IIHF World Championship in Helsinki and Tampere, Finland, scoring two goals in eight games.
Still, it was unclear for a while whether Bordeleau would be available to play at the WJC with the Sharks searching for a general manager to replace Doug Wilson, who stepped down on April 7 to focus on his health. Mike Grier was hired, though, on July 5, and about a week later, Bordeleau told United States coach Nate Leaman he would be able to go.
"He knows that this opportunity got taken away from him a couple times, and he knows how special it is to play in this tournament and play for his country," Leaman said. "I tip my hat to him. I've been texting with him quite a bit throughout this summer, and when he said he was on board, I was really excited about it."
Bordeleau is excited that his coach with the Sharks next season will be David Quinn, who coached him with the United States at the world championship. Quinn was hired by San Jose on July 26.
Bordeleau and Quinn actually go back further than the world championship, though. Quinn was the coach at Boston University from 2013-18; Bordeleau went there on his first college visit.
"It's a lot of changes right now in the organization, a fresh start, so it's going to be fun," Bordeleau said.
This World Juniors will provide good preparation.
"The type of player I am, I don't need to put on weight," said Bordeleau, who is listed at 5-foot-10, 175 pounds. "I just need to get stronger. For me, it's really just kind of getting more resistance in battles and stuff like that. Just playing more hockey won't be that bad for me.
"I just need to get more explosive, faster, stronger, just be ready to play against grown men. I think getting obviously hopefully a lot of minutes, a lot of ice time, I think it will be good for me to get ready for camp."
