(Oakville) Originally, Conor Geekie and Denton Mateychuk were rivals.
They were then teammates, then they became each other’s best friends.
The bond was forged in the arenas and baseball fields of Manitoba. Now, the duo is set to create more remarkable memories.
Geekie and Mateychuk are among 30 players at Canada’s selection camp ahead of the world junior championship starting Dec. 26 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
“It’s crazy,” Geekie said. It seems like sport always takes us to the same places. It brought us a lot closer. We’ve been best friends for a while. This is something truly special. »
Geekie grew up 250 km west of Winnipeg, in Strathclair.
Mateychuk is from Dominion City, 90 km south of the provincial capital.
They are both 19 years old.
Rivals in minor hockey, they then forged strong ties with the Manitoba baseball team. Who was the best in summer sports?
“Heads or tails,” Geekie summed up. I was a better hitter and he was a better pitcher. I threw hard too. It’s just that I didn’t really know where the ball would go. »
A six-foot-four, 197-pound center, Geekie was selected 11th overall last year by the Arizona Coyotes.
The next name that was said? Mateychuk, five-foot-11, 191-pound defenseman, by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
With the Moose Jaw Warriors, Mateychuk recorded at least one point in his first 23 games of the current season.
“It’s very impressive,” Geekie said. He didn’t tell me too much about it, but he’s an incredible player. »
Mateychuk said he learned a lot at the Blue Jackets rookie camp.
“You find out as you go along what you need to do to get to the next level,” said Mateychuk, who has six goals and 35 points in 24 games with Moose Jaw. The most important thing is knowing when to press the attack and when to stay back. »
Geekie has gotten bigger in recent years. Playing with the Wenatchee Wild, he has 20 goals and 49 points this season in 26 games.
“I was really lean when I started [in the Western League],” said Geekie, whose older brother Morgan plays for the Boston Bruins. Even a little clumsy, I would tell you. I play more intensely now. I can protect the puck more than before. »
On Tuesday, Junior Team Canada won a preseason game 4-2 against a team of Canada’s university stars.
