Soo Greyhounds forward Owen Allard is set to make an impact for Canada on the fourth line with his compete and hard-nosed play style.
Owen Allard's invite to Canada's World Junior Selection Camp may have come as a surprise to many, but Alan Letang's coaching staff had a plan for him all along.
He was invited to Canada's camp for a reason, and he proved that reason enough to earn himself a spot on this final roster.
Allard actively fits the type of culture that Canada has continued to enforce in recent years; being tough to play against and having relentless compete throughout the lineup. The Soo Greyhounds winger is an expert in both of these areas, and he has proven that so far in this OHL season.
Allard missed the majority of last season with an injury, only getting into 14 games. He hasn't skipped a beat this season, totalling 30 points in 29 games and filling a top-six centre role on a tough Greyhounds team. The Soo has taken massive strides this season, currently sitting first in the West Division with a 22-8-2 record. Allard's stellar performance has been a big reason for their success.
The 6-foot-2 forward brings an element of toughness and relentlessness to this lineup. In selection camp and early pre-tournament games, Allard has proven that he can generate energy and momentum for his team playing on the fourth line.
Though he isn't the prettiest skater, Allard is an explosive skater and he can close on opponents quickly. He has the ability to get into the heads of opponents and throw big hits to generate momentum.
Allard will also be able to provide secondary scoring from the bottom-six, with his ability to retrieve pucks from below the goal line an an above-average shot release. He will be able to put in the work in puck battles and set up his teammates around the net.
In Canada's pre-tournament game against Switzerland, Allard picked up a primary assist on Owen Beck's first goal. Allard was able to read a bounce off of the boards, chase down the loose puck and feed Beck out front for the goal.
Allard was brought onto this team to fill a specific role, and nothing else. Time will tell if his selection was the right decision, but when Canada needs to turn the tides in the do-or-die games, Allard can be that guy.
Expect Allard to remain on the fourth line for the entirety of this tournament. In the pre-tournament games, he has been on the fourth line centred by Owen Beck, and with Nate Danielson on the opposite wing.