Brett Bulmer is a step closer to suiting up for his country at the World Junior Hockey championship after Hockey Canada named him to their tryout camp in Calgary.
"I think I've done a lot of good things to get the opportunity but I've got to continue on until that phone call comes," said Bulmer when his Kelowna Rockets were in Prince George to play a pair of Western Hockey League games with the Cougars in Nov. 18. "When I get there I have to work even harder and just play my game."
The 19 year old was one of 41 players named by Hockey Canada for training camp in Calgary from Dec. 10 to 14 with a shot at being on the final roster when Canada hosts the World Junior Championship in Edmonton and Calgary from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5. Bulmer is one of 11 players invited to the selection camp that will be involved in their first-ever Program of Excellence experience at either a regional or national level.
There are eight players playing for NHL clubs, including Prince George's Brett Connolly with the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are age eligible for the World Juniors and haven't been ruled out by their professional clubs.
Since Bulmer returned to the Rockets from his nine-game experience with the Minnesota Wild in the NHL, he's picked up 15 points, including six goals, for Kelowna in 10 games, while receiving his first international experience when he played for Team WHL in Regina during the 2011 SUBWAY Super Series - a 5-2 win against Russia.
"I've come back as a 19 year old to dominate this league and just try to get my team to be a winning team every night, by using my body and being a huge leader for this team," said Bulmer. "It's just a matter of getting lots of ice time this year. I have a lot to learn still. Being in all situations is only going to make me better.
"I plan on making the [Wild] next year," he added about the team that drafted him in the second round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
Ryan Huska, head coach of the Rockets, also stepped behind the bench Nov. 15 in Regina to coach Bulmer in the Super Series.
"I think it was a bit of an eye opener seeing the difference between the Canadian game and the game that they play, but I thought he handled himself very well," said Huska. "Hopefully he impressed the guys at Hockey Canada."
Bulmer handled his disappointment when the Wild sent him back for his third season with the Rockets by scoring two goals and adding two assist in his first game back, Nov. 4 against the Portland Winterhawks.
"He helps us on the ice and maybe more importantly he gives us an older guy and a strong leader in our dressing room which makes our team feel a lot better about itself," said Huska.
Bulmer spent two years with the Cariboo Cougars in the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League before beginning his WHL career where he's played 135 games, collecting 35 goals and 104 points. In two playoff seasons with the Rockets, Bulmer has logged 22 games, notching seven goals and 11 points. In four games against the Prince George Cougars, Bulmer has four assists and eight minutes in penalties and was one of the best Rockets on the ice.
"You can't really dwell on things," said Bulmer about returning to junior hockey. "You've got to move forward and just try to make yourself better every day. That's what I try to do all the time. Sure I was disappointed, but you've just got to move forward and be more motivated to make it."
Bulmer played his first NHL game against he Columbus Blue Jackets with parents Lance and Sharon cheering him on and played in Vancouver against Ryan Kesler and the Sedin twins - Henrik and Daniel - and now he'll be working on playing against Finland on Dec. 26.
"Anytime you get to play international games for your country it's pretty special," said Bulmer.
