LEIPSIC up for the challenge

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Brendan Leipsic

It's fair to say that for a large chunk of Brendan Leipsic's 18 years on the planet, his life has revolved around eating, sleeping and breathing hockey.

And now that commitment is about to be cranked up considerably.

Yes, welcome to the big time, Mr. Leipsic.

The Winnipeg product -- a star with the Portland Winterhawks who was drafted in the third round by the Nashville Predators in June -- will essentially dive headfirst into a fresh, but intense, new season beginning this week.

Leipsic is to fly to Toronto today to hook up with 27 other Canadian juniors before heading to Yaroslavl, Russia on Friday to prepare for the first two games of the 2012 Canada-Russia Challenge, which opens on Aug. 9.

The four-game mini-tourney, which will include a tribute to the Canada-Russia Summit Series of 1972, wraps up with the final two contests in Halifax on Aug. 13-14. All four games will be televised on TSN/RDS.

"It'll be a pretty cool experience," said Leipsic Wednesday from his family's home in Winnipeg. "I never really thought I'd get a chance to play in this event. There's a lot of pretty big names in this."

That much is true. Canada's roster is stacked with high-profile talent, including Winnipeg Jets draft picks Mark Scheifele and Lukas Sutter and 13 first-round draft choices from the last two years.

But clearly Hockey Canada sees something in Leipsic, too. Listed at 5-9, 175, he potted 28 goals and added 30 assists in 65 games last year in Portland and had five points in five games at the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

And this next step -- plus the doors it could possibly open -- is huge. Canada is using this four-game series against the Russians instead of its annual summer development camp for prospects who have been identified for the world junior championship.

A good showing in Russia and Halifax, coupled with a solid start to his season in Portland, could earn Leipsic and invite to Team Canada's world junior selection camp in December.

"There's going to be a lot of pressure and intensity," Leipsic said. "It's pretty nuts. Growing up, you always watch the world juniors at Christmas and to get a chance to maybe be a part of it one of these years is pretty cool. Everybody watches it and it's almost as big as the Olympics. It means a lot to be recognized."

Still, Leipsic wants to do more than just be recognized here. A gifted finisher, he also understands that a tourney like this can also open some eyes as to the other layers of his game. And that versatility can go a long way when the world junior squad is picked before Christmas.

"There's ways you can stand out a little bit," Leipsic said. "If you're a scorer, you want to score, checkers need to check and if you're physical you need to play that game, too. Hopefully, you can get noticed by (Hockey Canada head scout) Kevin Prendergast and the coaching staff.

"But you can get thrown in different roles and if you're compatible, it can help you a lot."

When Leipsic returns from the Canada-Russia Challenge his schedule doesn't exactly drop off -- he'll have a few days to catch his breath before returning to Portland for the Winter Hawks training camp.

"Summer is kinda over for me... she went fast," said Leipsic with a chuckle. "Once I get back on the Wednesday I'll be heading to Portland for the year the next Monday.

"It doesn't get any easier just because you've been drafted. The work really begins after the draft. You're trying to earn a contract, trying to play in the AHL and one day the NHL. That's what I'm working for now."

ANOTHER 'TOBAN ON THE RADAR SCREEN: Winnipeg's Madison Bowey, a 6-1, 194-pound defenceman with the Kelowna Rockets who is draft eligible next June, is one of 40 players who will be in Toronto this weekend for Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team selection camp, which runs Aug. 3-6.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPEdTait

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 2, 2012 C2