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Of course, he still has to showcase his skills at the selection camp and in some pre-tournament games, but Hamilton’s Darnell Nurse is expected to be a lock for this year’s national junior squad. He arrived at camp Thursday night and skated for the first time today.

Darnell Nurse admits that he was disappointed when he was sent down to Sault Ste. Marie after playing only two games with the Edmonton Oilers this season, but there was a bright side: “Not being there opens up opportunities like this, which I’ve been looking forward to all year.”

In his second year as the Greyhound’s captain, the 19 year-old Hamilton native has netted six goals and 13 assists in 19 games. And, while he hasn’t made Team Canada yet, he’s already being touted as one of the junior’s top defensemen.

Even though he was second in scoring among all OHL defensemen at this time last year, Nurse wasn’t invited to the 2013 selection camp.

And it’s something he hasn’t forgotten:  “It makes me a little more hungry to earn a spot. Any time you have an opportunity to represent your country, that’s motivation. I’m just looking forward to having the opportunity to play for this team.”

Hockey Canada was criticized for not letting Nurse try out last year because they deemed him to be a risky player. Head coach Benoit Groulx was an assistant on last year’s squad: “He’s a more mature player than he was one year ago and at that age I think maturity is everything. This morning at practice, he was a big presence out there. I like the way he plays, within his limit. That’s where he excels. He’s a big body, skates well, engage physically. We need that on our team.”