The Columbus Blue Jackets are finally back home after their five-game road trip that saw them go through Chicago and then Western Canada. They bookended wins in Chicago and Winnipeg and suffered losses in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.
This week in News and Rumors, we start with some good news that one of the Blue Jackets’ players was able to share while on the road trip.
Werenski Makes Four Nations
The rosters for the Four Nations Tournament was recently revealed. Team USA announced that Zach Werenski made their roster. The story of how Werenski found out was quite good.
“We had a team dinner at Martini after our Carolina game,” Werenski said. “The restaurant I think closes at 11. We walked in right at 11 and Billy (Bill Guerin) was sitting there with Chris Kelleher at the bar. So me and my fiance went over and talked to him for a bit. I was kind of nervous. I wasn’t sure if I had made the team or not yet. I was just talking to him about the season. Then we went to the back room, sat down and then Ollie came in. And he said when he walked in, Billy grabbed him and said, can you grab Z’s fiance again?”
“So then I kind of had a feeling when I was walking back out there. We’re going back out there like something’s up. It’s either going to be yes you made it or hey we’re going in a different direction. Then he was like guys, I forgot my wallet. I just want to see if you guys would buy, pay for our bill. I’m still kind of nervous. I don’t know what to say. My fiance right away was like, if you put him on Team USA, we’ll buy your dinner.”
“In my mind, I was like don’t say that, but she doesn’t care. She was just having fun and Billy loved it. And he’s like well yeah because you’re buying because he’s in. Then it was a whirlwind. It was a cool moment. I gave him a hug. I gave my fiance a hug. Then we got back to our table and we asked the server to go get his bill for us to pay for it. By the time we asked the server, he was already gone. So I do owe him a dinner.”
Flyers coach John Tortorella said on Tuesday morning that Werenski is “having a hell of a year.” At over a point per game offensively while outscoring the opposition when on the ice, he’s in the Norris Trophy conversation. He has done everything asked of him and then some to earn this opportunity. It’s nice to see it…
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