Jacob Julien has just stepped off the ice at the 2024 Memorial Cup and his mind is clearly on what is just around the corner.
There will be ample time for reflection down the road.
Opportunities like the one in front of him don’t come around every day.
Sure, the Winnipeg Jets forward prospect is happy to field a barrage of questions about his Ontario Hockey League season with the London Knights, but the chase for the national junior championship is front of mind for the lanky centre.
“Obviously, we’ve got a good squad here,” Julien said Thursday morning from Saginaw, Mich., home of the host team, the Saginaw Spirit. “(With) our work ethic, we like to hound pucks, we like to be all over them. We like to work hard and get things done.”
The Knights open up the Memorial Cup on Saturday afternoon against the Drummondville Voltigeurs, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champions.
Rounding out the field are the Western Hockey League champion Moose Jaw Warriors, who are led by captain Denton Mateychuk of Dominion City.
Playing for longtime NHLer and renowned head coach Dale Hunter has been a treat for Julien.
“He’s got a lot of experience, especially coaching,” said Julien. “He’s been a player and he’s a really good coach. You follow what he says because he knows what he’s doing. He’s going to lead you along the way.”
It’s been an excellent season for Julien, who was chosen by the Jets in the fifth round (146th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft.
The 6-4, 181-pound centre got his first taste of the OHL in 2022-23, appearing in 40 games while recording nine goals and 16 points after opening the season playing Tier II with the London Junior Nationals of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.
In his first full season, he notched 29 goals and racked up 78 points in 67 games before adding nine goals and 18 points in 18 games during the OHL playoffs.
“I got a lot more comfortable (this season) and the guys really helped me out with that. I found a spot and started to play in it,” said Julien. “Definitely the defensive part of my game is one of my strong points. I like to lock it down in the D-zone and that’s created a lot of good opportunities in the O-zone this year.”
Five of those nine playoff goals came on the power play, while Julien was able to notch hat tricks in consecutive games to help eliminate the Kitchener Rangers in the semifinal.
“That was a big confidence booster. Whatever I can do to help the team is what I want to do,” said Julien, who turns 20 on Sept. 12. “I’m just keeping it simple. Working with linemates, working with teammates. Special teams have been helping.”
The Knights, who are led by Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan, swept the Oshawa Generals to cap the OHL post-season with a record of 16-2 and advance to the Memorial Cup for the sixth time since 2005.
“We were ecstatic. We were happy to see all of our hard work paying off. Everyone was just jumping for joy. We want to keep it going,” said Julien. “We’re staying focused on what we want and we want to win. We’re just going to do everything that we can to do that.”
Jets director of player development Jimmy Roy watched Julien play in the OHL final and has been impressed by the growth in his game.
“The thing about him in London is that he’s put in so many situations to succeed. They used him on the wing and they used him at centre until he found his role and what it was,” Roy said.
“He’s always had (offensive ability). It just came out of him more (this season). He’s still got room to grow and he knows that. He understands the pace that he’s got to get up to, where he’s moving his feet all of the time and making plays at a higher pace. He’s working on that.
“He’s so engaged, he works on his game and he’s great at self-evaluation. His maturity level, his physical maturity and mental maturity will all come because he’s a smart kid.”
Having the opportunity to compete for the Memorial Cup after winning a league title will be another great test for Julien, who has suited up in 38 OHL playoff games during the past two seasons.
“It’s different than the regular season. The playoffs are different from the regular season because you’re playing against the best teams and the best players now,” said Roy. “This will be such a good stage for him and a good challenge for him, to know the level that he has to get to in order to move on (to the pro game).”
ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca
X: @WiebesWorld
Ken Wiebe
Sports reporter
Raised in the booming metropolis of Altona, Man., Ken Wiebe grew up wanting to play in the NHL, but after realizing his hands were more adept at typing than scoring, he shifted his attention to cover his favourite sport as a writer.
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