Brennan: bittersweet to be leaving Cougars but eager for opportunity with Team Canada at U18 Worlds

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A brief stint of experience came in 2018, the year he was taken 21st overall by the Cats in the WHL Draft. However, the nest year, Brennan saw a substantial increase of game time in 2019-2020; playing in 15 games and posting a 4-6-1 record.

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As well as he’s performing in the shortened season in the BC Division’s Hub, Brennan won’t be closing out the season with the Cougars as he leaves the team bubble in Kamloops to embark on an opportunity with Hockey Canada’s U18 team at the IIHF U18 Worlds in Texas, from April 26 to May 6. He’ll be quarantining in Kamloops for five days before leaving March 17th.

“It’s always an honour and a privilege to play for Team Canada, but at the same time, yeah it is a little bittersweet having to leave the (Cougars),” admitted Brennan. “Having to do all this work to get into this bubble just to leave, kind of sucks, but I would never turn down this opportunity.”

“Having to do all this work to get into this bubble just to leave, kind of sucks, but I would never turn down this opportunity.”

This marks the second time Brennan will dawn the Maple Leaf. He previously was named to the U17 Hockey Canada squad, playing for Team Canada White at the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in November of 2019.

With this opportunity, there’s just one wish Cougars’ goaltending coach Taylor Dakers is hoping Brennan gets out of this experience.

“More confidence. He gets a chance to go side-by-side with the best competition that his age has to offer. Most of those guys are draft eligible this year. But luckily for him, he gets another year to show everybody what he’s got before the NHL Draft,” said Dakers on Brennan’s draft stock, who isn’t eligible until 2022 to be drafted. “But he’s going to leave, he’s going to go down there, and we’re not really going to see the benefits of it until next season. If he has success down there, it’s definitely going to be a confidence booster.”

As a 17-year-old on a young squad, the Winnipeg product says he’s excited for the future with the Cougars once he’s able to return back following his opportunity to represent his country at the international level.