“Doing Whatever It Takes to Win”: Habs’ Michael Hage Ready for the WJC
As Team Canada prepares to announce its final roster for the World Junior Championship, Montreal Canadiens prospect Michael Hage is living out a dream he once thought might slip away.
Last year, when there was still a stigma around the NCAA route for Canadian players, Hage had accepted that choosing college hockey might mean never representing Canada on the international stage. Now, he’s on the verge of pulling on the Maple Leaf at one of the sport’s most prestigious tournaments.
“It’s really special,” Hage says. “Anytime you get the chance to represent your country, you’re just really grateful and try to make the most of an opportunity like this. It’s exciting.”
Growing up, he was like countless other Canadian kids, glued to the TV every holiday season watching the World Juniors.
“You watch it for years and years and years growing up,” he recalls. “To kind of feel like it’s pretty real that you’re going to have a chance to represent your country. It’s really special, and it does give you even more motivation than you already have.”
One moment in particular stands out in his memory: Tyler Steenbergen’s late gold-medal winner against Sweden in 2018.
“I want to say maybe the Canada–Sweden final with Tyler Steenbergen. He hadn’t played a shift for a while, and he was the 13th forward. I remember just playing mini sticks in my living room, and he had, like, a shot-tip from the point, and he scored with not much time left. That was probably one of the coolest ones I could remember.”
Role, Standard, and Adapting to Win
At early Team Canada practices, Hage has been lining up on the wing of the second line, though he’s equally comfortable at centre. Under head coach Dale Hunter, the message has been clear and simple.
“I think just the biggest thing being the standard is to win at Hockey Canada,” Hage says. “You have to try to find a way to get it back to that. This is such a special opportunity. It’s one of the coolest tournaments you could be a part of as a guy under 20 years old.”
In a lineup stacked with talent, roles are fluid and ice time is fiercely earned. Hage understands that better than most.
“For everyone at a tournament like this… regardless of what your role is, you just do anything you can to win, and you adapt to that role and make the most out of the situation you’re in. There’s only one puck and there’s so many skilled players out here, and it’s so fun to be a part of.”
As for the biggest question on Canadiens fans minds: centre versus wing? Hage’s answer speaks volumes on how his understanding of the game has evolved.
“Not at all,” he says when asked if his game changes. “Other than the faceoff, nowadays in hockey, it’s whoever’s back first is low. Especially in the neutral zone, it’s the same thing. It really changes nothing other than faceoffs. It doesn’t change much for me. You want to play against the best players.
Growth in His Two-Way and Physical Game
Hage’s path to this moment has been shaped by a strong start to his freshman season at the University of Michigan, where he, Will Horcoff, and TJ Hughes recently shared the lead in NCAA scoring. But beyond the points, he has focused heavily on his all-around game, particularly away from the puck.
“We had talked a lot about taking pride in the defensive side of the puck,” he says. “I think it’s something I really worked on with our coaching staff at school.”
For Hage, there’s a direct connection between the pressure of college hockey and the intensity of the World Juniors.
“The biggest thing that compares to being at Michigan in a tournament like this is just how important every single game is, every single little play,” he explains. “Especially in college, you’re in a lot of win-or-go-home situations. Just how important the little details are all the time, I think, helps in a tournament like this.”
That detail-focused approach has made him more trusted defensively.
“In the defensive zone, it’s gotten better,” he says. “I’m excited to be able to hopefully play in different situations and just be someone that can be trusted out there.”
Along with the defensive mindset has come a noticeable step forward in his physical game.
“I feel strong right now. I feel good. My body feels good,” Hage says. “I’m excited to get the opportunity to play in such a big tournament. Obviously there’s so much on the line in every game, so you’re willing to do a lot — whether that’s blocking shots or defending everything. The level of intensity is just elevated. I feel like I’ve taken steps in that area of my game, so I just try to show up.”
Studying the Best and Being a Student of the Game
At Michigan, players are given access to InStat to study NHLers and break down their tendencies. For Hage, who describes himself as a “student of the game,” it’s a perfect fit.
“I wouldn’t say like anything in specific,” he notes, “but I have for sure guys in the NHL that I like to watch. I like to watch guys who are creative and make plays and take little cues from them.”
Power-play situations are a particular focus.
“Especially with power play stuff, you get to watch different little things that guys are really good at in the NHL. It’s definitely helped me at work a lot. Just watching what the best guys in the world do, trying to kind of replicate stuff like that.”
One name he keeps coming back to in our conversations has been the play and evolution of Jack Eichel.
“I like Eichel a lot. I think he’s a great player and I like just how smooth he is,” Hage says. “There’s so many guys to watch — you love watching the McKinnons and the McDavids — but there’s only so many guys that can do what they do on the ice. I think Eichel is such a creative, smart player and such a smooth skater.”
When it comes to emulating some of the greats in the NHL, it comes down to effort and how much you care about winning.
“I think the biggest thing is just caring about what you do. I feel like I’m a student of the game and I want to get better, so I just enjoy watching the best in the world do it.”
Carrying the Hype of a Passionate Fan Base
As a Montreal Canadiens prospect, Hage enters the World Juniors with a sizable spotlight. Online, every goal, every assist, every highlight clip is met with enthusiasm from Habs fans eager to see one of their top prospects on the international stage.
“It’s a lot of fun to see how passionate they are and how much they care,” he says. “It’s a really special fan base and a really cool market to be a part of. Yeah, excited to try to get to work this tournament.”
For Hage, the World Juniors are more than just a showcase — they’re a chance to honour the journey that got him here, from mini sticks in the living room to packed arenas with gold on the line.
“It’s really special,” he repeats, and you believe it.
For a player who once made peace with possibly never wearing the Maple Leaf, getting this chance now only deepens his resolve:
Adapt to the role. Trust the work. Do whatever it takes to win.