by Al Alven, philadelphiaflyers.com
Flyers prospect Steve Downie slouched back in his locker room stall, simultaneously kicking off his skates and unraveling the tape from his stick blade while fielding questions from a small circle of intent reporters.
Sweat beaded off the forehead of the intense 20-year-old forward, who spoke at first in short, bated breaths, still trying to catch his wind following a spirited Team Canada practice just days before the team was set to begin defense of its gold medal at the World Junior Championship in Sweden.
"The key to us repeating?" he asked rhetorically, echoing one reporter's query. "It all starts from the top, with leadership. You look at the guys who were here last year, the guys who have to carry the team. You start with our captain, Ryan Parent. He's the embodiment of what we're trying to accomplish here."
Canada did go on to capture its third straight WJC crown, thanks in large part to the contributions of Downie and Parent, OHL rivals when they are not performing as teammates on the international stage. Little did either realize at the time, however, that they would become members of the same NHL organization just a short time later.
Parent, acquired along with forward Scottie Upshall and a pair of draft picks last week from Nashville in the Peter Forsberg trade, brings with him an impressive list of credentials and a reputation as one of the top shut-down defensemen in the major junior ranks.
The 6’2’’, 205-pound Guelph Storm blueliner has also been widely praised for his natural leadership abilities and maturity both on and off the ice.
"He's a player that leads by example out there," continued Downie. "He's a warrior and a guy the [veterans] and young players all admire. He's a pleasure to play with and a pain to play against."
Early Success
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Prospect Profile: Ryan Parent
Prospect Profile: Ryan Parent
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