Larkin talks about being named to Team North America roster for World Cup
By @MichaelCaples –
ROYAL OAK – Dylan Larkin was at a Tim Hortons in Royal Oak early Friday morning, surprising customers and encouraging them to buy special Red Wings-themed donuts.
After he was done with his shift – a half-hour venture to help with sales of the donuts that support the Red Wings Foundation – Larkin checked in with MiHockey to talk about his latest hockey accomplishment.
The 19-year-old Waterford native was named to Team North America for the upcoming World Cup of Hockey – one of the first 16 players selected for squad comprised of the best hockey players under the age of 23.
“It’s pretty cool,” Larkin said. “It’s obviously a great honor. I didn’t really expect it, the first 16, but it’s really cool. It’s going to be a great tournament.”
The roster spot is the latest career highlight for the Red Wings rookie. After an accelerated trip through the University of Michigan and the Grand Rapids Griffins, Larkin has been a mainstay in the Wings’ lineup as a 19-year-old – something that hasn’t been done in two decades.
His Team North America selection can be added to a hockey resume that already features an NHL All-Star Game appearance and a league record for fastest skater at the Skills Competition. Larkin currently has 19 goals and 20 assists in 62 NHL games, along with an impressive plus-19 rating.
“It’s crazy to kind of just look at [the Team North America] accomplishment from the beginning of the season when I wasn’t really on the radar for that team,” Larkin said. “It’s pretty cool to have that as a thing that’s kind of an accomplishment personally, but there’s still more to the season and more for the team.”
Photos from Larkin’s Tim Hortons visit
Larkin will be joined by the likes of Connor McDavid and Brandon Saad on Team North America, as well as Commerce native Connor Hellebuyck. He will also skate with former NTDP teammate and Buffalo Sabres rookie standout Jack Eichel. The Wings’ No. 71 said he’s excited to play with Eichel once again.
Yeah I am, and all the young players – it’s going to be a great team,” Larkin said. “It’s pretty cool to see all the young American guys and even the young Canadian guys. Guys like Jack and McDavid, it’s going to be a special team.”
He also said he enjoyed his Tim Hortons experience, as well.
“It was a lot of fun. It’s pretty cool to come out and see the workers; it’s a lot of work that goes into running a Tim Hortons. The drive-thru is constantly busy in the morning, so it was pretty cool to come out for the Detroit Red Wings Foundation and help out.”