[BowRiverBruinsRule]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I think it’s because about 95% of kids don’t speak freely near enough, they speak in hockey talk because they’re trained to do so for the last 3-4 years of their CHL careers.

Every so often a “star” comes out of the woodwork who speaks their mind and shoots it straight which catches people off guard. There’s always the loud ones too who cross the line too far and end up in trouble.

Zayne has had to deal with adversity his whole career, he’s had to overcome all sorts of labels through junior hockey and now has had to watch as his childhood dream to play at the WJ’s was taken away from him after winning the CHL defenceman of the year and putting up record numbers in back to back OHL years.

Sitting at home he gets to watch Canada struggle severely and listen to the panel and all sorts of hockey media question why he’s not there either, which only adds to the chip on his shoulder. Could you imagine being the best defenceman in JR hockey and not make the team because of political reasons? I’d be absolutely pissed and at that age I know I’d want to say a lot more than he has.

I see nothing wrong with how he’s acted in this case or how he speaks his mind, in fact I’d prefer guys who have that drive and desire to be the best and want to be apart of something.

Don’t forget he graduated high school at 16 so he could focus on hockey… I would say that’s more mature than about 95% of the CHL. What can’t be lost is he’s still a kid, so he’s going to at times come off like one.

He’s a good kid, he’s motivated beyond words and as sad as this situation is for him and the other snubs I think it will make them all better.

I just hope Hockey Canada gets its much needed enema, and that starts with Salmon.

This. Salmon has to go.