NEWS: Sweeney named to U SPORTS All-Star team, will take on World Junior hopefuls in Victoria

In the midst of his third season with the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees men's hockey team, defenceman Jacob Sweeney's play is garnering attention across the nation.

The Quebec City, Que.-native was among the student-athletes selected to the U SPORTS All-Star team that will take on the Canadian World Junior hopefuls in pre-tournament play from Dec. 12-14 in Victoria, B.C.

Sweeney will also be joining Head Coach Patrick Grandmaître who will serve as an assistant coach on the team for a second consecutive season.

"I think it's a good opportunity," said Sweeney, following confirmation of his inclusion on the team. "The way that I play doesn't revolve around me getting points, or getting on the scoresheet all the time." 

"So it's nice to be appreciated by other coaches as well. It represents the type of value my style of hockey can bring to a team," he said.

While defencemen can often get pegged into specific defensive or offensive roles, Sweeney's game on the Ottawa blueline is fluid. He finds himself on the ice in all situations, blocking shots at one end of the ice, then firing shots on net at the other end.

"I like to contribute in anyway I can that will help the team. I can be slotted where I'm needed," he continued. "It's much easier to fill a team with very specific roles, but the players that can do both are harder to come by."

Sweeney's defensive partner Michael Poirier echoed these sentiments. The duos on-ice chemistry dates back before their time at Ottawa, when they were teammates on the QMJHL's Moncton Wildcats.

"I've always admired Jacob's play. When I came into Moncton Wildcats training camp he was a veteran there—being a good reliable defender and his puck decisions are what makes him stand out," said Poirier. "He's always able to find a way out of the zone efficiently. It's good for a team to have a defenceman like him that's good in his own zone and can contribute offensively too."

Sweeney previously had a taste of international competition in his 19-year-old-year with Moncton, when he was named to the QMJHL All-Star team in the Subway Super Series in a pair of games against a Russian All-Star team.

"I like to think of it as just another hockey game," he said. "I'm a lot older and experienced than I was [in the Subway Series]. This is about going out there to contribute in two or three games, and trying to have some fun at the same time."

With Sweeney being the lone Gee-Gee on the ice, the exhibition series in Victoria will allow him to get to know some frequent combatants, such as Ryerson's Matt Mistele and McGill's Nikolas Brouillard.

The team is also heavy with contributors from national contenders Alberta, Saskatchewan, and UNB. While Sweeney has never faced these players at the U SPORTS level, it could become the case should the Gee-Gees' torrid pace continue in the new year.

"I know Mistele a little bit. Brouillard I've played with him a couple times. Mark Simpson [at UNB] is a guy I've known for a while," Sweeney said, "It's a free for all going into it, like a clean slate, and I'm looking forward to it."

Games against the Canadian World Junior hopefuls will be at The Q Centre in Victoria on Dec. 12 and 13 at 6 p.m. and Dec. 14 at 2 p.m.

Follow @GeeGeesMHKY on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates on Grandmaître, Sweeney, and co. in Victoria.

—Cameron Penney