Montreal Canadiens Nick Suzuki and Josh Brook shine in OHL/WHL return

The Montreal Canadiens saw some loses from the 2019 World Juniors, but Nick Suzuki and Josh Brook were back to their dominating ways on Friday in junior.

It was a tough game against Finland. Canada had the game won up 1-0 with seconds left on the clock. It would’ve been another step for the team and would see Montreal Canadiens prospects continue to flourish in the tournament. Unfortunately, two deflections got past Michael DiPietro, and it cost Canada the game in overtime.

As much as it pains to lose, life and hockey moves on, and it already has for Nick Suzuki and Josh Brook. Two Habs prospects were back in action in the CHL Friday night. Suzuki and his Owen Sound had a game against the Kitchener Rangers while Brook and the Moose Jaw Warriors took on the Prince Albert Raiders.

Both displayed their respective specialties on the ice at the World Juniors. Suzuki’s deceptive playmaking kept a lot of goaltenders guessing and made him equally as dangerous as your go-to sniper while Brook’s puck movement and hockey IQ from the backend made him one of Canada’s best defencemen. All of those qualities put into use.

Owen Sound gave up the first goal of the game on the powerplay after Daylon Groulx was called for a blindside hit. Greg Meireles had both of the shots on the Rangers’ man-advantage opportunity and the second one found the back of the net.

The two teams would go back and forth on scoring chances with Kitchener leaving the first period with the momentum. That changed in the middle frame and Suzuki got things going.

Receiving the puck down low from Adam McMaster, Suzuki skated the puck to the crease jamming the puck at Luke Richardson. The puck bounced up ricocheted off Richardson’s back before it rolled into the net. Not the everyday goal, but a tally is a tally, and that was Suzuki’s 21st of the season. The Attack found a bit of a groove for themselves scoring again two minutes later via Brady Lyle.

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Unfortunately, they couldn’t hold Kitchener back who would score back to back goals in both the second and third periods and the eventual game-winner with five minutes remaining.

It was a more positive ending for Brook. The 2017 second-round pick exploded in his return to the WHL with three assists (two of which were primary).

The first came on the power play that saw Brook in charge of the right side of the ice. With quick feet, Brook walked in to the top of the circle sending a slap pass to Tristin Langan in front who sent it home for his 28th. The best part of this play is his poise. Brook had his head up the entire time and recognized the lane to find Langan despite the defending player in his way.

His third point may have been the most impressive. It was an empty net situation for Prince Albert who was looking for another goal to tie it at three. A centring pass attempt missed fellow Montreal Canadiens prospect Cole Fonstad in the high slot and ended up along the left board.

Brook charged to it with Fonstad on his heels winning the race and the battle for it. Noticing Langan heading towards the empty net, the young defenceman lobbed a pass to the neutral zone for the easy tally. It was game over, and the Warriors got the 4-2 win.

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Two different results, but Suzuki and Brook showed their importance to their clubs. Although it didn’t work out at the World Juniors, there is still a lot for them to play for this season. Perhaps a league championship or maybe even something greater could see either at the Memorial Cup. Who knows, though it is clear that Suzuki and Brook will be doing some special things for the Montreal Canadiens one day.

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