MONTREAL — Defenceman Madison Bowey is doing whatever he ca

[blueberryjerry]

MONTREAL — Defenceman Madison Bowey is doing whatever he can to help Canada at both ends of the ice rink. . Bowey has been a reliable player both offensively and defensively for the Canadians through three games of the world junior championship. The 19-year-old hopes that trend continues when Canada takes on the United States in the final preliminary game for both teams on Wednesday night at the Bell Cent re. First and foremost, I want to be solid in the defensive end, said Bowey after practice on Tuesday. Thats the main goal. But if I can chip in offensively, Ill try to do that the best I can. If I get a lucky bounce, and get a few points, thats awesome, and Im just going to try to keep doing what Im doing. Bowey is a big-bodied defenceman — hes six-foot-one and weighs 195 pounds — who was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the second round of last years entry draft. He makes good decisions with the puck, isnt afraid to finish a hit and is fast on his skates. The two-way defenceman plays his junior hockey with the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League. In 259 regular-season and playoff games with Kelowna, Bowey has amassed 55 goals and 164 points. And three games into Canadas current quest for gold, he has a tournament-high plus-7 rating, and he leads all Canadian defencemen with three points, including a pretty goal against Germany on Saturday. With the Canadians on the power play up 3-0 late in that game, Bowey crept from the blue-line towards the German net, waited patiently for the puck and fired home the insurance goal. It felt really good, Bowey said. Its a pretty high-end tournament, and to score a goal in it is pretty special for myself. If I can help the team win in any way I can, thats my main goal and thats what Im going to try to stick to. This isnt the first time the Winnipeg-born blue-liner is on the hunt for silverware while wearing Canadas sweater. Bowey helped Canada to hockey gold at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament in Slovakia in 2012, and again at the U18 world championship in Russia in 2013, where he scored the game-tying goal in the final against the Americans. Bowey is making his mark on this years world juniors after narrowly missing out in 2013. He took part in Canadas selection camp last year, but was sent home after missing the cut. He says the last 12 months have been paramount in his development as a player. Ive improved a lot at both ends of the ice, he said. Im really calm with the puck now, and Ive had a lot of confidence with it. Playing defensively, I can really compete against other teams top lines and other teams top players. Thats what Im trying to do right now, and its going well. Boweys biggest test to date will likely come on Wednesday when he and defensive pairing Josh Morrissey — also a Kelowna Rocket — will try to shut down Jack Eichel and the Americans. Canada leads Group A with a perfect nine points through three games. The Americans are just one point back as they needed a shootout for one of their victories. The winner of Wednesdays contest will finish top of the group. That game is going to be huge, said Bowey, the only right-handed shot on Canadas defence. Thats what we all circled on our calendars for a while now. Bowey and Morrissey, a prospect for the Winnipeg Jets, have formed Canadas second defensive pairing since the start of the tournament, and they have been solid from the get-go. Madison and I have become pretty good friends over the last few years, said Morrissey, who was traded to Kelowna earlier this month. Hes a great player. He has a bit of everything - hes fast, he can skate, he has a great one-timer. Its a lot of fun playing together. Weve only been getting better as a pair. Added Bowey: Our chemistry is growing every day. Him and I are really good buddies off the ice, which goes a long way on the ice. We keep improving every day and thats awesome to see. We try to help each other out as much as we can. Bowey and Morrissey are expected to see a lot of draft phenom Eichel, who leads the United States with 14 shots on target through three games, though he has scored just once. The Canadian defencemen are well aware of just how dangerous the 18-year-old can be. Every top line, we have to know who were going up against, said Bowey. Being defencemen, we have to know what their weakness is and what their strengths are. Obviously, Eichel is a guy who has a lot of strengths, so we have to make sure we contain him well. Hes a big part of their team. . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. .The Canadian teenage golf sensation announced Thursday shell join the LPGA Tour in 2015 instead of attending the University of Florida. . "Ive got a lot of work to do on this team and the sooner that I can get back to my office and start that work, itll be better," he said straight-faced as the rest of the room erupted in laughter.Heres what Prime Minister Stephen Harper had to say to Wiggins, as well as fellow Cavs teammate and Canadian, Tristan Thompson. For the second year in a row, a Canadian is the #1 overall pick in the NBA draft. Congrats @22wiggins. #canadadraft2014 — Stephen Harper (@pmharper) June 27, 2014 The 6 really in the building now @22wiggins Welcome to the 216 bro!! — Tristan Thompson (@RealTristan13) June 27, 2014Johnny Manziel also had a warm welcome from Cleveland for Mr. Wiggins. A WIGGINS!!! Welcome to the city my bbrother and congratulations @22wiggins #CavsSZN — Johnny Manziel (@JManziel2) June 27, 2014Andrew Wiggins meets with the Canadian media for the first time since being announced as the 1st overall pick. . Cabbie couldnt wait to get his hands on him. Canadas man of the moment sits down for his first Canadian interview after being picked #1 pic.twitter.com/UPhpeM62Cf — BarDown (@BarDown) June 27, 2014 Cabbie and Andrew Wiggins https://t.co/jtTevSziOv — TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 27, 2014 ' ' '

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