It's been a busy summer for Corbeil's Ben Gaudreau.
Gaudreau has had a busy summer so far jumping from San Jose's Development Camp to the World Junior Team Canada selection camp in Calgary.
The Sarnia Sting netminder was at the camp vying for a spot on Canada's World Junior team that will play during the Christmas Holidays taking place in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
"It was a little bit different, the whole dynamic," explained Gaudreau.
"It was different for everyone. The staff was saying it was a little busy for them because they were trying to get that together and they have to look at this team, then they have to look at the U18."
That camp, should not be confused with the current 2022 Team Canada World Junior team which is currently playing in Edmonton to make up for the postponed games that were shut down due to COVID-19 early in 2022.
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Gaudreau, who won gold with Canada's Under-18 team in Texas in 2021, admits this Team Canada camp had a very different theme to it due to the dark cloud hanging over the organization.
Hockey Canada has been under intense scrutiny since May when news broke that the organization quietly settled a lawsuit filed by a woman who alleges she was assaulted by eight unnamed players, including members of the country's 2018 world junior team, following a gala in London, Ont., four years ago.
A number of players have come out publicly to distance themselves from the allegations including North Bay's Colton Point, who was a member of that team.
"I think they take it very seriously so there was a lot of stuff that went along with that. A lot of different little classes we had to take," said Gaudreau.
"They obviously care a lot about it and rightfully so. I think they did a really good job showing their side of it and they are taking the next initiative to do what they can do for it. We don't want that image of hockey, it does not belong in hockey and I think that is something a lot of people are trying to work towards. You can only control what you can control. We can't go back and change time or anything but we have to write a new future."
On the ice, Gaudreau was pleased with how he performed at the Hockey Canada event.
"It was a lot of fun with the guys and stuff like that and we always have a good time getting to see each other again and was definitely busy for a lot of people," said Gaudreau, who was also joined by North Bay Battalion head coach Ryan Oulahen and defenceman Ty Nelson at the camp.
"I had a pretty good camp and I showed what I could do. It is just starting up quick and picking up where I left off at the camp and I have to have a hot start to the season and make sure I show them what I can do in a bunch of games so. As long as I get that going again, I almost have to let camp go and forget it even started and show them what I can do during the season once it starts."
Gaudreau named the 2021-22 Sarnia Sting MVP, is hoping to be the first North Bay area player to make Team Canada's World Junior squad since Colton Point did so back in 2018 in Buffalo where Canada won gold.
He admits trying out for the World Junior team in August and then watching the World Juniors in the same month is very bizarre.
"It is weird watching in August as it's something you sit down and watch with your family during the Christmas holidays so having it in August is a little bit weird," he said.
"I almost understand why the attendance is a little bit lower than usual. It is a weird time for hockey. At the end of the day, it is summer and a lot of hockey players want to enjoy their summer and go golfing or working out so it is a little bit different for sure and I think it is something the players have had to get used to. They haven't played a game in a couple of months so to step into the World Juniors is a little bit different for them as well."
Gaudreau will continue to do his dryland training with local coach Logan Baker and has been preparing on ice working locally with Todd Robillard and travelling south to train with his Sarnia Sting goalie coach Franky Palazzese.
The San Jose Sharks prospects heads out to Sarnia Sting training camp on August 29.
