Three years ago, Jordan Spence was a 16-year-old rookie playing with the Summerside Western Capitals in the Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL).
Today, Spence is preparing to represent his country in one of the International Ice Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) most prestigious events – the 2021 world junior hockey championship in Edmonton from Dec. 25 to Jan. 5.
“When I was trying out for the Caps, I wasn’t thinking that far ahead, but I think I have progressed throughout the years,” said the 19-year-old Spence, who was one of 25 players, and eight defenceman, named to the Team Canada roster on Friday. “The teams I have played for have been great, and I can’t say enough about them.
“It’s a dream come true to make world juniors. It’s been a roller-coaster for sure.”
“When I was trying out for the Caps, I wasn’t thinking that far ahead, but I think I have progressed throughout the years. The teams I have played for have been great, and I can’t say enough about them. It’s a dream come true to make world juniors. It’s been a roller-coaster for sure.”
- Jordan Spence
Capitals head coach Billy McGuigan reached out to Spence on Friday to offer congratulations on behalf of the organization.
“It’s a pretty spectacular accomplishment,” said McGuigan.
Undrafted
Spence’s journey to Team Canada has not been without challenges. He went undrafted in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League following his first year of under-18 eligibility with the Charlottetown Pride (now Knights) in the New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major Under-18 AAA Hockey League.
One week later, the Caps drafted him in the third round, 28th overall, in the 2017 MHL Entry Draft.
The right-handed-shooting Spence would seize his opportunity with the Caps.
“Fortunately, for me, I got drafted by Summerside,” said Spence in a phone interview Sunday night. “They gave me the opportunity to try out and see if I could make the team.
“Luckily, I made the team and started the progression and gaining confidence with the Summerside Caps. With Billy McGuigan coaching and the teammates that I had, it was an unreal year.
“I had a blast, and I improved on the ice and off the ice as well as a person. It was a great year, and I wouldn’t be here if Summerside did not draft me as a 16-year-old.”
McGuigan said Spence is a perfect example of an individual turning the disappointment of going undrafted into a positive. Spence, who is from Cornwall, wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“That’s the way the kid is,” said McGuigan. “When he came to us, we weren’t sure if he was going to make our hockey team or not.
“He willed his way onto the team, and he earned every minute of every opportunity he got with us in Summerside. That catapulted him to the Quebec league.”
After one year with the Caps, the Moncton Wildcats drafted Spence, and he has played there the last two-plus years. This season, Spence has 16 points, including five goals, in 13 regular-season games with the Wildcats.
Determination
Capitals general manager Pat McIver, who reiterated McGuigan’s comments that the organization is very proud of Spence, remembers his determination in battling for a roster spot with the Caps.
“We didn’t know how things were going to go as he was 16-years-old and had gone undrafted in the Q (QMJHL),” said McIver. “He was determined to make our team and slowly got better, better and better as the season went on.
“Come to the end of the year, Jordan was a workhorse. He was playing 30 minutes a night, power play, penalty killing and playing in all situations. He truly was our go-to guy in the back end. Nothing surprises with Jordan right now for sure.”
Spence said he was fortunate to have a lot of positive influences during his year with the Caps. He credited McGuigan for coaching him on the “little details” he had to improve on while enhancing his development. He also said the team’s veteran players made him feel welcome and taught him a lot.
“As a 16-year-old in junior A, there were a lot of older guys,” said Spence. “For me, (team captain and forward) Morgan MacDonald and Sebastien Cormier (were great influences), especially Sebastien Cormier as a 20-year-old defenceman,” said Spence. “I watched him growing up with the Summerside Capitals because he had been there for a couple of years. Playing with him and him giving me some pointers, it was great.”
Spence was also paired with Brodie MacMillan quite a bit that season.
“We had great chemistry,” said Spence. “He’s a big guy and was a steady defenceman. For me, it was unreal.”
Snapshots
Some quick facts about Jordan Spence:
- He was born in Australia. The Spence family moved to Japan when Jordan was still a baby. They moved to P.E.I. when Jordan was 13-years-old. They reside in Cornwall.
- In the 2017-18 season with the Summerside Western Capitals, Jordan was named the Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) rookie of the year. He was also named to the MHL Rookie All-Star Team and led the league in assists – 39 – by a defenceman.
- Spence’s regular-season statistics with the Caps were 50 games played, 13 goals, 39 assists and 52 points. In 12 playoff games, he had four goals and 13 assists for 17 points.
Jason Simmonds is the sports reporter for the Journal Pioneer.
