Malmo 2014: Mathew Dumba–Canada’s Great Hope?

Sep 17, 2013; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba (55) looks on during the second period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Xcel Energy Center. The Blue Jackets defeated the Wild 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

In case you didn’t know, TSN–essentially the Canadian counterpart to ESPN–has done nothing but rave and praise the Minnesota Wild’s Mathew Dumba as Canada’s greatest hope on an untypically young defensive blue line.

Of 25 players invited to participate in Canada’s 2014 WJHC selection camp, Dumba is the only active NHL player on the list. A veteran of 13 games, the former Red Deer Rebel brings a wealth of experience, skill and talent to a defensive corps that is sorely lacking in the experience department.

Here’s what analysts at TSN had to say:

http://www.tsn.ca/videohub/?search=Dumba&show=213140

While being Team Canada’s final cut the past two U-20 tournaments, Dumba is no stranger to representing his country. In 2010-11, he played six games for Canada Pacific U-17, scoring 12 assists for an amazing two-point-per-game pace. The next year, he would wear the “C” for his country in both the Hlinka Memorial Tournament and U-18 WJHC, notching a combined seven goals and eight assists for 15 points, a gold medal and a bronze in 12 games. Along the way he would nearly sweep the awards, earning Best Defenseman, Most Assists, Most Assists by a Defenseman, Most Goals by a Defenseman, Most Points, Most Points by a Defenseman and Top-3 Player on Team.

With a few more seasons under his belt, Dumba is poised for a great tournament. Don’t be surprised to see an additional letter slapped on the front of his sweater, too.