OSTRAVA, Czech Republic ? It was a knock on the door no player wants.
Jacob Bernard-Docker had battled through Hockey Canada’s summer practices and exhibition games, made selection camp ahead of last year’s world juniors and grinded his way to be one of eight defencemen left standing.
The problem was, there were only seven spots. And Bernard-Docker wound up being the odd man out.
“It stung,” said the 19-year-old. “You definitely don’t like the feeling. You work so hard to get there and to get cut, it’s disappointing.”
But he turned the heartbreak of coming so close to making Canada’s roster for tournament in Vancouver and Victoria into a positive, knowing he’d get another shot in 12 months.