could u please explain the significance of the 2021 world juniors to tzjd?
It’s kind of the most beautiful origin story ever???
It all goes down in Edmonton and a covid-bubble WJC created for the tournament. Both Trevor and Jamie have been drafted to the Ducks at this point (Trevor Zegras, 9th overall in 2019 draft and Jamie Drysdale, 6th overall in 2020 draft).
The gold match up: USA v Canada. Trevor Zegras is interviewed prior to the game and gives what’s maybe his most infamous quote, “I honestly don’t think [Canada has] been tested with a real team yet, and I think we’re kind of going on all cylinders right now. I think we’re gonna catch them by surprise, and I think we’ll go from there.” (x) Canada was previously undefeated in the tournament. Canadians were already losing their shit. And then, maybe even more shocking than Trevor’s audacity, the USA won 2-0. Trevor himself had an incredible tournament, scoring points in every game including a goal in the gold medal game. He also won MVP of the tournament (x).
After the tournament ends, the southern California teams chartered a plane to bring their prospects to LA (Ducks Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale plus Kings Quinton Byfield, Alex Turcotte, Arthur Kaliyev and Tobias Bjornfot).
Once they arrived in Anaheim, Jamie self-reportedly did not want to talk to Trevor, "I’d be lying if I said on the plane ride I wasn’t a bit salty. No words spoken on the plane ride pretty much at all.” (x) But Trevor made them break bread at a Chick-fil-a (x). At the time, they were sharing a long-term hotel residence with two other Ducks prospects, including Gabe Perreault’s older brother.
Any salt came from Jamie’s end, because from the beginning Trevor was Jamie’s number one hype man, example 1/100000, “it's funny you say enemies. There was always a mutual respect. Obviously, he's an 02 and I've been playing against him my whole junior experience, which is pretty impressive on his part, being able to play up an age group is pretty good. And I always respected his game, ever since I saw him at my first WJC, he was dynamite. The way he skates. The way he makes plays. I was always a big fan of his game. Lucky enough the Ducks drafted him, six overall. Sitting on my couch, I was the happiest guy, just because he's so dynamic and so easy to play with." (x)
But even during the WJC tournament, Jamie was complimentary of Trevor: “He's good with the puck, good at making plays, good at finding things...when I'm out there I'm just going to try and close my gaps and not give him any time and space because I think he thrives when he has that, so I think taking away that will benefit me." (x)
Trevor gets called up for his Ducks debut first, and given he came right from WJC he didn’t have a suit to wear to the game, so he borrowed Jamie’s silver-medal WJC suit jacket. And he makes sure everyone knows: ““Actually, I got Jamie Drysdale’s coat,” Zegras said, referring to his former Gulls teammate. “So, it’s kind of a makeshift suit. Coming from World Juniors (in Edmonton directly to Anaheim), I didn’t have time to pack or plan anything. I’m kind of just making it up as we go here.” (x)
The rest is history. Because not even three months later comes Jamie’s infamous “good night for our household” quote about scoring their first goals in the same game (x).
And a little bit of bonus history: nearly a year later (April 2022) Trevor posted an Instagram story of his WJC championship ring and tagged “thanks @ jamie dryadale”
(For more info on their time on the Ducks)
