Jeff Truitt (second from left) with his bronze medal and plaque from the World Under-18 Hockey Championship. (Submitted Photo/Jeff Truitt)

By Rob Mahon

Truitt Wins Bronze

Truitt returns to Canada with bronze medal at U18s

May 3, 2023 | 3:16 PM

For the second time in the 2022-23 season, a member of the Prince Albert Raiders coaching staff was asked to coach with Team Canada at a major international event. And, for the second time as well, that coach is bringing home some hardware.

Raiders head coach Jeff Truitt has returned to Canada with a bronze medal in tow, having won the medal at the World Under-18 Hockey Championships. Truitt served as head coach of the team, who won their medal in dramatic fashion in a 4-3 overtime win over Slovakia.

“It was one of those thrilling situations where they go up 3-2 on us and we pull our goaltender to get it to 3-3,” Truitt said. “Going into overtime, I thought we had good skill, I really kind of thought we might have a bit of an upper edge, but both teams played really well in that 3-on-3.”

It was a bow on what Truitt felt was a positive experience at the tournament. Bringing together a group of young players who have never played together before is no easy task, especially when many of their opponents had experience playing together.

“You’re kind of throwing guys into the fire right off the bat and hoping they come out on the right end of things,” Truitt said. “Not only systems-wise, you’re dealing with a whole new group and hopefully they buy in. It’s chemistry amongst the lines, power play and penalty kill units, and getting kids to play on a whole new ice surface too.”

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New linemates, new systems, new coaches, and a new ice size to deal with were all challenges for the players, but Truitt focused on the importance of getting better day by day until the team began to reach a peak. Many of the players leading the way were ones Truitt was familiar with from the WHL, including Prince Albert product Tanner Howe.

“Sometimes he didn’t get on the scoresheet, but he was very valuable in what he did and the potential of him scoring,” Truitt said. “He knows what to do with the puck, obviously a gifted goal scorer, but it’s a different level. It’s almost above our level here because those teams gun for this tournament.”

Neither Howe nor Truitt were new to international hockey, with Howe having suited up for Canada at the U-18s the previous year, and Truitt having coached with the World Junior team on two occasions. It wasn’t long before he got used to the intricacies of international hockey.

“The faceoffs, you can’t use your feet over there,” he said. “We knew the refereeing was going to be a little bit different over there because they call things very tight. It’s a little bit different from what we’re used to in the CHL. The refereeing was probably the biggest difference.”

Canada typically has runs of success at most major international tournaments, but the U18s have been an exception. There are several reasons for this, the most important of which is the tournament takes place during the CHL playoffs. Thus, many of the best players are not available.

In spite of that and other challenges, Truitt was still able to steer Canada to a medal, just their second medal in the last seven tournaments. With that in mind, it’s possible Hockey Canada comes calling on the veteran bench boss again. When asked about that possibility, however, Truitt’s mind went first to the Raiders.

“Getting this opportunity because we didn’t make the playoffs, I was available and I wanted to kind of get back into it,” he said. “We don’t make the playoffs, that’s disappointing, but it gave me an opportunity to win something at the end and we did… I’m happy with what I’m doing and where I’m at and looking forward to turning the page back to the Raiders and making things better next year.”

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP