Jack Matier a world class kid

He has been chosen to play on the world hockey stage.

Sault Ste. Marie product Jack Matier is slated to skate for Team Canada at this month’s 2021 International Ice Hockey Federation under-18 world championship tournament.

The world-class event is slated for an 11-day period beginning on April 26, with games to be played in the Dallas, Texas area.

A 2003 birth year, right-handed shooting defenseman, Matier is a member of the Ottawa 67’s. The likeable lad was Ottawa’s first round pick at the 2019 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.

The 6-foot-3, 185 pound Matier appeared in 56 games for the 67’s as a rookie during the 2019-2020 OHL season and had nine points from his blue line post with a plus-minus rating of +11.

Prior to that, Matier developed under coach Jamie Henderson with the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under Hockey Hockey League.

He is a son of Mark Matier, who was a defenseman for the 1993 Memorial Cup champion Soo Greyhounds.

Meanwhile, another Northern Ontario product was named to the Team Canada 2021 squad.

He is standout 2003 birth goalie Ben Gaudreau, who hails from the North Bay area town of Corbeil.

Gaudreau was a first round pick of the Sarnia Sting from the North Bay Trappers of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League at the same 2019 OHL draft in which Ottawa chose Matier.