On the Rise - Victor Mete

MONTREAL - Winning the Memorial Cup, getting drafted by the Montreal Canadiens, and earning an invite to tryout for a spot with Team Canada at the World Juniors. Victor Mete has had a pretty good 2016.

And at just 18 years of age, the best is yet to come for the young defenseman.

"I was really happy to get invited to the camp to have a chance to represent my country. I've been working really hard all season and it's nice to see that paying off now," admitted the London Knights blue-liner, who will attend Team Canada's selection camp in Blainville between December 10 and 14.

In the short term, Mete is eyeing a coveted spot on Canada's roster for the 2017 World Junior Hockey Championships, which will take place in Montreal and Toronto over the holidays.

"I watch the tournament every Christmas and I have a lot of great memories of that. I've had a chance to play with a couple of guys who have played recently. My first year in London, Max Domi won gold for Canada, and last year it was Mitch Marner. That was really cool to see," shared Mete, who was drafted 100th overall by the Canadiens this June.

Mete is hoping to become the next Knight to suit up in red and white over the holidays. If he makes the cut among the 32 players who were invited to take part in the selection camp, it will be meaningful for the Woodbridge, ON native for a few reasons. In addition to realizing a childhood dream, he would also get a chance to play on home ice in Toronto, as well as what he hopes will eventually be his full-time NHL home at the Bell Centre.

"That would obviously be special. Watching every year, I've always wanted to play in that tournament. It's exciting to have the possibility to do that and I hope I get a chance to represent my country. Playing in Toronto, where I'm from, and then playing in front of the fans in Montreal would be such a great experience for me and for my family," said Mete, who has already matched his 2015-16 goal total of eight in just 26 games this year.

The format of the Memorial Cup tournament he won with the Knights is nothing like what he'll see at the World Juniors, but Mete's experience in high-stakes games should serve him well nonetheless.

"World Juniors is a short tournament and you have to play with new players and develop chemistry quickly, whereas at the Memorial Cup, you've been playing with the same guys since the start of the season. But even there, you're facing teams you haven't played against before, so that experience will help me I think," he concluded.

Marked improvement

In 2015-16, he had 38 points (8G, 30A) in 68 games, and he has already racked up 35 points (8G, 17A) in 26 outings with the Knights this year. That's no accident. Mete credits his time at the Canadiens development camp with helping to accelerate his learning process.

"My routine is still the same and I don't want to change who I am, either. But I've applied some of the tips they suggested this summer that they thought would help me and I've seen the difference. They gave me some different exercises to work on in the gym that have helped a lot. I'm stronger now than I was last year so I just have to keep doing what I'm doing so I maintain that over the season," explained Mete.

Another thing Mete picked up from playing with young veterans during camp is the importance of working hard at all times.

"That's how good things happen. You have to say focused and prepare the night before because when you're playing pro hockey, everyone is prepared. Obviously they're all stronger, faster... Everything is another level. Just being able to play in the rookie tournament and having a chance to watch the way they work helped a lot. I think it will also be beneficial to me in the long term to have come back to Junior to work on some things," he continued.

Despite the improvements he's already seen, Mete admits he still has a lot to learn on his journey to the NHL.

"I have to work on everything, really," he admitted with a laugh. "You're never perfect. You can always work on things, so I'd say I need to work a little on everything, both on and off the ice."

Part of those lessons come from watching his hockey idols, like Blackhawks blue-liner Duncan Keith and Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly.

"I feel like I play a little bit the same style as Rielly. I like watching him and trying to model my game after his to make it to the NHL. I'm trying to follow both of them as players, really," he explained.

He doesn't have to look far to find off-ice models, either.

I'd like to be like my parents. They've worked so hard their whole lives and they've always been so supportive of me. They're always there for me, and so is my sister, Julia," stressed the former fifth-round pick.

Mete is known as one of the fastest defensemen in the Ontario Hockey League. His 21-year-old sister may have had a hand in helping his stride develop.

"We're really close. She's a figure skater so I was always at the rink as a kid watching her. She taught me to skate and even though I didn't get into figure skating, she definitely helped me become faster," said Mete.

He'll find out soon if his impressive 2016 earns him a spot at the World Juniors. If so, 2017 might just get off to a golden start for Mete.