The Detroit News’s Nolan Bianchi spoke with Red Wings prospect and Team Canada alternate captain Donovan Sebrango about his status as wearing an “A” on his jersey, his professional journey with Grand Rapids, and his expectations for the upcoming Quarterfinal at the World Junior Championship:
“I guess [playing in the AHL] was a blessing in disguise. You get kind of a crappy situation going on with COVID, but I get to play in the American (Hockey) League, and I think I’ve learned so much just playing against men and trying to take a step forward to my dream in the NHL,” Sebrango said.
Sebrango wasn’t just playing against men, however. He was also playing with them — like Griffins captain Brian Lashoff, who broke in with the Griffins in 2008 and has taken Sebrango under his wing over the last two seasons. That, in a way, makes it no real surprise that Sebrango’s leadership and maturity has made him a shining star through the first week of games.
“He’s playing at that high of a level that long. I mean, I’m just turning 20, so he’s been playing at that high of a level for as long as I’ve been around,” Sebrango said. “I think how he prepares and how he gets his body right to play a full season like that…it’s quite something to watch and it’s an honor to be on his team.”
As Canada prepares to play a few rounds of win-or-go-home hockey, Sebrango admitted that his team lacks a certain battle-tested quality thus far. Its closest game of the tournament was a 6-3 win over Finland on Monday. All of that, though, just makes it all the more necessary that guys like Sebrango are around to put each situation in perspective and keep the team at the top of its game.
“It’s something we’ve definitely, as the leadership group, has addressed with the room, that no matter who we’re playing that day, we’ve got to bring our best foot forward” Sebrango said. I think going into the elimination round, we’re ready because we’ve prepared every game like it’s do or die, and it doesn’t matter who we’re playing. We’re at the top of our game.”
