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Tavares proves he's among game's best at World Cup Canadian coach Babcock gives Oakville native the minutes to show off his hockey talent with and without the puck By Steven Ellis Special to the Oakville Beaver 47 | Thursday, October 6, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com At the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, it wasn't Patrick Kane or Henrik Lundqvist that proved to be John Tavares's toughest competition. It was Latvian defenceman Arturs Kulda. During Canada's thrilling quarter-final game that saw it almost lose to one of the lowest ranked teams in the Olympics that year, John Tavares suffered a leg injury that took him out for the rest of the season after crashing into the boards in a race with Kulda. He didn't have a point in that tournament two years ago, but now he's proven to be one of the best hockey players in the world after becoming a World Cup of Hockey champion last week. "He's been incredible," said captain Sidney Crosby. "He's been huge for this team." Tavares, 26, has quietly proven himself to be one of the most talented players in the NHL after having a great junior career with the Oshawa Generals, London Knights and Milton Icehawks. A star with the New York Islanders, Tavares is an early-season favourite to be near the top of the NHL scoring ranks this year. On a line with Getzlaf, Stamkos The World Cup, which Canada won in two straight games over Europe, proved to be just the start of what should be a potentially career-changing year. Playing on a line with Ryan Getzlaf and fellow first overall draft pick Steven Stamkos, Tavares finished with one goal and three assists in six games for Canada as a topsix forward on the championship-winning squad. He was one of the most crucial players for Canada, which showed very few holes in its game throughout the tournament. For Tavares, the World Cup was the most effective he's been in men's tournament competition, and he understood how incredible the run was. "To get this far into the tournament isn't easy and we don't take it for granted," said Tavares. This wasn't the first time Tavares was crowned champion while wearing the Maple Leaf on his chest. The two-time world junior gold medalist won the 2012 Spengler Cup championship with Canada, as well as the 2014 Sochi Olympic title John Tavares had a goal and three assists in six games, helping Canada win the World Cup of Hockey. | photo by Steven Ellis ­ special to the Post despite missing the final few games. Canada has now won two straight Olympic gold medals and two world championship titles, but Tavares was reluctant to consider Team Canada's recent run as the best the world has ever seen. "There's been success over the past century," Tavares said before Game 1 of the World Cup finals. "As players, I don't think we try to compare our generation to other generations." Canadian head coach Mike Babcock gave Tavares more chances this year than in Sochi in 2014. Back then, Tavares was mainly used in a bottom-six role with the likes of Rick Nash, Martin St. Louis and Patrick Sharp, seeing very few minutes a game. At the World Cup, Tavares was one of the most dangerous players in the entire tournament, both with and without the puck. One Eastern Conference scout even said he's one of the only players in the NHL that can contend with the likes of Crosby and Connor McDavid as the top players in the league. Throughout the tournament at the Air Canada Centre, the Oakville native has been a fan favourite, which is likely a combination of being from the GTA and a player the Leafs might sign when he is eligible for free agency in two years. But no matter what, he's proven himself to be one of the best in the world, and his time has just begun. Readers Readers Survey Survey contest contest inprizestobewon! Participate in our survey for a chance to win! Visit: pulseresearch.com/metroland to enter. No purchase necessary. Contest open to Ontario residents 18 years of age or older. Odds of winning depends on the number of eligible entries received. Six (6) prizes are available to be won: (i)One (1) Grand Prize of $5,000.00 CDN (Five Thousand Dollars CDN) in cash; (ii) Two (2) second place cash prizes in the amount of $1,000 CDN each (One Thousand Dollars Canadian); and (iii) Three (3) third place cash prizes in the amount of $500.00 each CDN (Five Hundred Dollar Canadian). Entrants must correctly answer, unaided, a mathematical skill-testing questions to be declared a winner. Contest closes November 11th 2016 at 11:59 p.m.. To enter and for complete contest rules visit www.pulseresearch. com/Metroland.