Gangwon 2024: Western Hockey League top draft pick Daxon Rudolph ready for gold chase with Canada
The defenceman, one of the top youth hockey prospects in Canada who was drafted first in the major-junior Western Hockey League in 2023, hopes to help Team Canada win its first Youth Olympic ice hockey gold in Gangwon.
Ice Hockey
It may come as a surprise, but Canada has never won ice hockey gold at the Winter Youth Olympic Games, taking two bronzes and a silver from the three tournaments held to date.
Daxon Rudolph is out to change that at Gangwon 2024. The top draft pick in the major-junior Western Hockey League (one of three leagues at the top level for under-21 players in Canada) last year, the 15-year-old aims to be part of the first Canadian team to bring home hockey gold from a Youth Olympics.
"We noticed that," Rudolph tells the official Olympics.com Podcast in an interview ahead of his departure for Gangwon. "Our goal here as a squad is just be the first one to get that gold. That's what every team's looking to do, so we'll have to do whatever we can to get that done."
This may be an under-16 tournament, but the set-up is second to none in Canada's hunt for the elusive top step of the podium. "We are treated like pros," Rudolph says. "There's so many mental performance coaches, stuff like that. Everyone's got the information they need (to succeed)."
"Offensive defenceman" Rudolph on Canada's obsession with ice hockey
Ice hockey is as close to a national religion or obsession in Canada as you can get. Sidney Crosby's famous overtime winner in the Olympic Winter Games Vancouver 2010 final against the United States, a literal golden goal, is still talked about as a core memory in Canadian hockey history.
"That's a historic moment for hockey in Canada," Rudolph says of an event that took place when he was not yet two years old but still has had a clear impression on him, like so many other Canadians.
"I mean, it's the golden goal, right? Everyone knows about it, everyone talks about it, it's a huge moment for our country."
So the fact Canada hasn't won the Youth Olympic Games title, even at under-16 level, is something Rudolph would like to finally put to bed.
"I'm just looking forward for more moments like that (Crosby's winner)."
The blue-liner, who is listed at 6-foot-1 (1.85m) and 185 pounds (84kg), aims to contribute at both ends of the ice in his team's hunt for a first gold medal.
"I'm an offensive defenceman, so I like to move the puck, move my feet, and kind of join in on the offence, because that's the fun part of hockey, right?
"Everyone likes scoring goals and that's what I try to do, set up my team-mates and score some myself."
That has shown in his stats this year, with the Alberta native tallying 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists) in 21 games in his under-18 prep league this season playing against players up to three years his senior despite playing on the blue line.
"Surreal" YOG call brings together first-time teammates
Getting to wear the Maple Leaf on his chest will be something special for Rudolph, one of 18 junior players from across Canada to make the final roster.
So, too, will the chance to visit Asia and the Republic of Korea for the first time.
"It's going to be awesome. I'm super excited, I think we all are here," he says. "Most of us haven't been over there. I certainly haven't, so it'll be cool and it'll be different. Taking it all in and just soak it all in and really enjoy the Olympic Village and just the atmosphere that's going to be there going on.
"It's almost surreal still to this moment. There's lots of high end players in Canada, and to be selected on top 18 is just incredible feeling."
For a country as big as Canada is, it's no surprise that many of the team will play with each other for the first time in Gangwon. Their pre-departure practices and scrimmages will have been the first time many of them have even met.
"There's seven Western (Canada) guys on the squad, so those are the guys I kind of knew before coming in," Rudolph says of his new teammates. "It's nice to see the what the different talent is out east, in Ontario, in the Maritimes and stuff like that. It's cool to meet new people."
And, whether or not Canada leave Gangwon with gold – to do so, they will need to come through a group with Finland and the hosts Republic of Korea before a semi-final and a final – even the chance to pull on a sweater that says Canada on it is good enough for Rudolph.
"Every kid wants dreams to wear the Maple Leaf on their chest," he reflects. "Everyone takes pride in that. And that's kind of a huge moment for each and every one of us on the squad.
"We're really looking forward to representing our country well."