Eric Staal and Owen Power: Stronger Together for Canada ice hockey

37-year-old Eric Staal and 19-year-old Owen Power might be at polar opposite points in their ice hockey career, but they share one dream at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

Staal is a Vancouver 2010 gold medallist, right there when Sidney Crosby scored THAT immortal overtime goal against the USA, and is a 'Triple Gold Club' member having won the Olympics, the Stanley Cup, and the World Championships.

Everything that 2021 NHL No.1 Entry Draft pick Owen Power wants to achieve in the game.

“He’s awesome," says Power when Olympics.com ask him what it's like to play with Staal in Beijing.

"Especially for the young guys like myself, he’s huge for us. He’s giving us good advice for this tournament and our careers in the future. He’s a huge part of this team.”

Staal can see a bright future for Power in the game too, saying this after Canada got off to stomping start in Beijing against Germany on Friday 10 February:

“I think his ability to control the play you saw tonight, he’s really walking the offensive blue line and moving pucks, finding lanes, getting chances, he’s got great instincts to know where to be on the ice.

"He’s only going to get better as we continue on in this tournament. He’s going to have a great career ahead of him.”

So with all the noise around being No.1 pick, what advice has Staal given him to handle the hype?

“Just have fun and live in the moment. I mean that’s all. And to be aggressive when I play,” says Power.

The NHL and Olympic veteran is a perfect fit for the leadership role in Beijing.

“I want to be that calming influence," he tells Olympics.com.

"Trying to be that guy that does the right things in certain situations and also being just another one of the guys. It’s been a lot of fun to be with