CALGARY

That Morgan Rielly hasn't taken a minor penalty in more than year is not lost on Steve Spott.

"The fact that he does not take penalties," Spott said Monday, "in a tournament like this, that bodes well."

Rielly, the lone Maple Leafs prospect trying out for Canada at the junior selection camp, is expected to not only make the team but be an integral piece at the 2013 championship in Russia.

The smooth-skating 18-year-old, selected fifth overall in the NHL entry draft by the Leafs last June, missed the majority of last season with a knee injury. But he has not been whistled for a minor since Oct. 19 of last year, making it through the Moose Jaw Warriors' first 33 games of the 2012-13 Western Hockey League season with just one fighting major.

Rielly is not the most physical defenceman in the world, but rarely is he caught flat-footed, so he's not flailing trying to get back in position, where a hook or a slash could happen.

Spott and his staff met individually with each player as they arrived on Monday. His message for Rielly, who has seven goals and 21 assists and is plus-1 for the Warriors, was clear.

"We told him to play to his strengths and not sit back and don't be a defensive defenceman," Spott said. "I trust him. I fully expect he will play that way.

"When you look at Morgan and the type of game he plays, he has the puck most of the time. He's a player who has world-class skill, the opportunity to run the power play, but he is a puck-possession type. He's such a smart player."

There's not much of a secret for Rielly when it comes to staying out of penalty trouble.

"Keep my feet moving at all times," Rielly said. "Try to be smart about it. I've had the chance to grow my game in all areas of the ice this year, and I think I have really improved playing in my own end. I'm pretty confident with that."

SPOT NO FAN OF RED/WHITE GAME

Steve Spott readily acknowledged Monday he could do without the Red/White game at Canada's junior team selection camp.

"Ultimately, it is tough for Canadian kids to play against Canadian kids," Spott, Canada's head coach, said. "We're in these individual meetings cranking them up and we are out playing hard against each other. I want them to play hard, I want them to be competitive, but I'm not a big fan of the Red/White game."

Just one player -- Xavier Ouellet -- arrived at camp nursing an injury. The Blainville-Boisbriand defenceman will test it during practice Tuesday morning, with an eye to playing in the Red/White game that night.

Spott plans to use Winnipeg Jets prospect Mark Scheifele on the right side, rather than at his usual centre position. Halifax Mooseheads teammates Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin will skate together for Team Red, while Ryan Strome and Brett Ritchie of the Niagara IceDogs will play for Team White.

Though Spott wants to find chemistry quickly, his first hope is that no players will be injured.

"I want to come out unscathed," Spott said. "That's the biggest challenge."

Canada will play a CIS all-star team Wednesday and Thursday.

terry.koshan@sunmedia.ca

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