WHC: J J are Dynamite!

Jonathan Toews and Jordan Staal certainly made a big splash in their first World Men's Hockey Championships. The two teenagers continued to show why they were selected second and third overall at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. McKeen's correspondent Jante Abrahamsson, had the chance to profile Toews and Staal after they helped Canada capture the gold medal.

Jonathan Toews making history

In Moscow this spring, Jonathan Toews put himself into the record books of international hockey. By capturing the World Hockey Championship gold medal, he became the third player in history to win both the World Juniors and the World Championships in the same season.

The young Canadian centre Jonathan Toews has yet to play his first shift in the NHL or even as a professional hockey player and has already made his way into international hockey history. In January, he was the Canadian clutch player during the successful World Junior tournament in Sweden and four months later, he landed another gold medal around his neck in Moscow at the Men's World Championships.

Russian legends Vyacheslav Fetisov and Sergei Makarov, who both captured gold at the World Juniors as well as the World Championships back in 1979, were the only other players to accomplish the feat. A select company that certainly would be flattering for any player and obviously for Jonathan Toews as well.

"Wow, I had no idea about this beforehand but obviously, it feels great to have ended up in a position where this was possible. I have been fortunate to play on two great Canadian teams this year. Both of the teams have had a tremendous desire for success and it has been a pleasure to be a part of it all", says Toews on the topic.

Although Toews did not quite have as large a role on the Men's team as he did during the World Juniors, the skilled and smooth-skating 19-year-old carried his own against grown men and recorded points in both the semifinal against Sweden and in the final against Finland. Unlike most of his teammates, the college player did not have to suffer from the adjustment to larger ice surfaces.

"I've played on Olympic ice surfaces back home in North Dakota for the whole season, which has helped me a lot here in this tournament".

"But apart from the ice surface, it's definitely a step up from college hockey to play in the World Championships. The game here is faster, you have to make quicker decisions and every opponent is better than what you are used to", he adds.

The third overall pick from last year's draft could however, have ended with zero international gold medals this season, if he had opted to leave the college game for an NHL contract offered by the Chicago Blackhawks' last summer. Luckily, for two editions of Team Canada, Toews did not feel that it was the right thing to do just yet.

"Playing college hockey is a good place for developing your skills and I also didn't feel quite ready for the NHL last year as a player, that's why I chose to stay at school for another year", he says.

"I still haven't decided what is going to happen for next season, so we will just have to wait and see".

Shortly after leaving Moscow, Jonathan Toews unsurprisingly signed an entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. Now it remains to be seen whether the teenager could be the long-awaited saviour of the seemingly always-struggling Chicago franchise.

Jonathan Toews is not another version of Sidney Crosby, but watching his international performances this season leaves no doubt in his ability at becoming a highly productive NHL player for many years to come. Which is something the Chicago Blackhawks are in dire need of.

Jordan Staal

From being a lanky junior league player to World Champion in less than a year, Jordan Staal has come a long way in a short time. At the Moscow World Hockey Championships, the Canadian got his first taste of international hockey.

Unbelievably, last season Jordan Staal was not considered good enough for the Canadian World Junior team. This season, he would obviously have been an impact player, but he was tied up playing NHL hockey for the Pittsburgh Penguins in a significant role on the second line, alongside Evgeni Malkin.

Anything the young Thunder Bay native has to say about his 29-goal rookie season in the NHL tends to come off as understatements, especially given the early projections that he would not even make the team and would eventually be sent back to the OHL. Instead, he constantly raised the bar for what people should expect from him.

"I'm pretty happy with the season. I think I played solid and felt like as I was improving all the time as the season progressed, just as the whole team did. I also got the opportunity to score a few points and hopefully I could build on that for next season", Staal says.

The young Staal's stellar-rookie campaign earned a nomination for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the NHL's top rookie. The nomination was shared with his Russian linemate Evgeni Malkin.

"Obviously there is a great honour to be mentioned in something like this. I'm very happy about it and I'm also happy for Evgeni's part. The two of us clicked really well together during the season".

Coming to Moscow and playing in the World Championships was not a difficult decision for Jordan Staal.

"It was a pretty easy decision coming here and playing for this team. Every kid back home dreams of representing Team Canada, but it was certainly something to get used to, when you're knocked out the playoffs one day and then the next you end up here. You have to try to reset your mind", Staal figures.

Just like great players often do, Jordan Staal played his best hockey of the tournament when it mattered most, as he finally started to get his skating and puckhandling skills going at the latter stages of the tournament, chipping in with an assist in the semifinal against Sweden and again in the final against Finland. Playing for the first time on international sized rinks was without question a bit of transition for him.

"I think that I got the hang of it eventually, but you have to be more aware positionally on the ice and then try to make the smart decisions depending on your position. It was certainly an adjustment for me, for sure".

Brothers in Arms

Another adjustment, but of the positive nature, was the opportunity to play together with his older brother Eric Staal. At times in the tournament, the two even paired up on the same line.

"Winning the gold with my brother is just great. You don't know how many chances there will be for us to play together. It has been great fun to play with him", Jordan says.

The big brother of the family, Stanley Cup winner Eric Staal, always has a sense of pride in his eyes when he discusses his younger brother Jordan and his accomplishments as a player.

"I think we are pretty similar as players. We both like to have the puck a lot and to use our speed, strength and reach to create offence. So there are definitely more similarities than differences", Eric Staal analyzes.

"Playing together with him has been nothing but an honour. It always is when you get the opportunity to play with someone as talented as he is", says a proud big brother.

Now, the Staal brothers might have to wait a while until their next get together at a major international event. About two-and-a-half years to be more precise, as the talented brothers will likely join forces for Team Canada at the Vancouver Olympic Games.