Couture looks forward to another shot at the Russians

Logan Couture has some added incentive to play in the World Junior Championships this season.

The Ottawa 67’s captain has represented Canada at the Under-18 level and would love nothing more than to get the chance to suit up for his country for the 2008 World Junior Championships on home ice in Ottawa this Christmas.

Couture has called Ottawa home for the past four hockey seasons and said that playing for Canada at this year’s tournament would be a special accomplishment.

“It would be unbelievable,” Couture said. “The fans in Ottawa are already awesome. If you go to a Sens game or a 67’s game you just see how much they love hockey in Ottawa and to have a World Junior Championship there just fits right. The fans in Ottawa support hockey so well and to have a World Junior there should be pretty amazing.”

Couture is playing in the ADT Canada-Russia Challenge for the second time and looks forward to using tonight’s game against the Russian Selects (7:00 p.m. Eastern on Rogers Sportsnet) to solidify his chances of being invited to Canada’s final selection camp next month. Couture is also playing in Monday’s game in Niagara (7:00 p.m. on Rogers Sportsnet).

“I’m just trying to make a positive impression,” Couture said. “This is my fourth game here so I’ve got a little bit of experience. I’m sure the younger guys know that and I want to be there in case they have any questions about what it’s going to be like playing the Russians. I’m going to do everything I can to get an invite to the camp in December so that’s what I’m doing here.”

Couture has already played in three ADT series games and said that it helps to come into the event knowing what to expect on and off the ice.

“I remember my first game in Oshawa I was really nervous and didn’t know what to expect,” said Couture, who has four assists in three series games. “But now that I’m here and I’ve played a couple of games, I know what to expect. I know how the Russians play so it definitely helps.”

Couture, who has four goals and 18 points in 18 games with the 67’s this season, and the 19-year-old from London hopes to get a chance to represent Canada again this Christmas.

“Every time I’ve been with Hockey Canada - whether it was Under-17 or Under-18 - I’ve had a lot of fun,” Couture said. “I’ve played with a lot of great players - a bunch that are in the NHL right now. Tournaments like this help you develop as a player and obviously it helped those guys like Sam Gagner, Luke Schenn, Drew Doughty get to the NHL. Experience like this would be great for me.”