Lazar complements (and compliments) Reinhart's leadership

The Edmonton Journal chatted with 19-year-old Oil Kings veteran Curtis Lazar Sunday morning. The Ottawa Senators prospect discussed having to raise the level of your game in a short tournament like the Memorial Cup, the value of world junior experience and also the positives Edmonton took from the opening loss to Guelph.

Lazar also touched on the leadership of defenceman Griffin Reinhart.

“He loves the big stage and the big games. Come playoffs, he’s really stepped it up. He does most of his leading by example on the ice, he’s not that big of a vocal guy. But that’s where I feel I almost complement him and I like being that guy that can step up in the dressing room and say what needs to be said.

“You look at what he’s able to do on the ice. I mean, he’s a man amongst boys, he can win any battle, if necessary, and really put the team on his back.

“I’ll never forget after Game 6 (in WHL final against Portland) we were on the bus to the airport, we were a pretty dejected group. He stood up on the bus and told us, ‘Relax, guys. When you get to the airport, you flip the switch. No point in dwelling on that game because Portland is going to be at the airport there with us.’

“We were motivated from that moment on, we knew we were going to win Game 7.”

Source: John MacKinnon, Edmonton Journal