Perhaps no one was more surprised that Devante Smith-Pelly was made available to Hockey Canada for the World Junior Championship than Devante Smith-Pelly.

After all, the 19-year-old forward had just scored two of his three goals and three of his five points in his last five games of action – all under new head coach Bruce Boudreau. In fact, Smith-Pelly has never been used more in his brief 26 game career than under new coach Boudreau.

Perhaps that’s why his sudden trip to Calgary caught the Scarborough, ON. native off guard.

“We did get a new coach and a lot of things did change,” Smith-Pelly said. “I was starting to put up some points and get a little more responsibility. I’m just going to take what I learned there and try to bring it here.”

Now that he is in Canada’s camp, Smith-Pelly has had the opportunity to catch up with some of those he made friends with at Canada’s National Junior Team Development Camp in August.

“I do know a lot of the guys here and it’s good to see them all again and have a chance to compete against and with them again,” he said.

If they didn’t know the Anaheim prospect before  this summer, those competing for a roster spot with Smith-Pelly got a rude awakening.

“I’d say that’s where I kind of came into my own,” Smith-Pelly said. “That camp was real important to me to be able to perform. This team was a goal of mine coming into this year and I’m glad I did well there.”

He’s well on his way to accomplishing one final goal – gold.

Aaron Vickers is the managing editor of Future Considerations and can be found on Twitter. For all the latest Future Considerations news and posts, follow FC’s Official Twitter Feed, on YouTube and on Facebook!