THE CANADIAN PRESS
HALIFAX — The player touted as the next big prospect on the hockey scene feels he successfully skated through the hype that surrounded his performance at the Canada Winter Games.
Nathan MacKinnon scored a goal and an assist in Nova Scotia’s last contest, helping the province to a seventh place finish at the competition in Halifax. The 15-year-old centre showed flashes of his explosive speed and strength during the 5-3 win over rival New Brunswick.
MacKinnon, who has generated a lot of media attention, finished the seven-game tournament with 11 points, including eight goals and three assists. The highlight was a three goal, two assist performance in Nova Scotia’s 7-2 drubbing of Newfoundland and Labrador.
MacKinnon ended up as one of the top scorers in the competition and said he didn’t let the attention that came with playing in his hometown affect his overall play.
"I think if anything it motivated me to be better since there was high expectations of me," said MacKinnon. "I don’t think it hurt my play at all."
He felt the experience of playing against the best under-16 players in the country would also help his development as he returns to play at Shattuck St. Mary’s, the Minnesota prep school where fellow Cole Harbour native Sidney Crosby also spent time before moving on to stardom.
"The pace was so fast here, so when I go back everything will maybe feel a little slower and I’ll have more time with the puck," said MacKinnon. "It should feel a little better back there and help my confidence."
MacKinnon is projected as a potential top pick in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft and has also drawn attention from several U.S. college programs. So far he hasn’t decided which route to take, although he has toured several schools in the States.
Tom Russell, an independent junior hockey scout who works the Maritime provinces, said he believed MacKinnon had shown himself to be the best player at the Games.
Russell said that was despite the fact Nova Scotia failed to win its first three contests in a tough round-robin pool that included Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec.
He said MacKinnon displayed all the attributes that has the hockey community buzzing about his potential.
"He’s an explosive player who can be at a dead stop and be at top speed within a couple of strides, so when you’re watching him it’s very exciting," said Russell.
"To come out with the Games that Nathan has proves that he is likely the guy that is going to go first overall in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League."
Meanwhile, the young player didn’t appear too overwhelmed by the flood of media attention that marked his Games appearance.
"I’m not used to it, but it’s not too bad, it’s just after the game," he said. "I can’t complain about it."
