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Batherson put himself in a position at camp where the Canadian coaching staff felt he was going to be a valuable asset in a third-line role. He learned his work ethic from his father Norm Batherson, who played in the old International Hockey League and overseas, plus his uncle is legendary Ottawa tough guy Dennis Vial.

Hard work has been the key to Batherson’s success and it’s what is going to take him to the next level.

“I think as he spends time with people he gets more noticeable,” Mann said. “They see his approach to it and he just continually gets better.

“As (Team Canada GM) Joel Bouchard said, he’s an extremely intelligent hockey kid that once he’s told something he just gets it and that’s what he does from then on. He got to the world juniors, he earned trust with the coaching staff and he just kind of kept building from there.

“He’s a confident kid but he’s very quiet. He’s not an in-your-face personality, he just goes about his business and that’s why people don’t think of him off the top of their heads. He’s mild-mannered and all of sudden he’s doing his things out there and he’s letting his action do the talking.”

After Batherson attended development camp in June and the rookie tournament in September, it didn’t take long for him to earn a contract. He signed with the club in October and the Senators project him to have a chance to play on one of the top three lines if his path continues down a successful road.

He has 18 goals and 23 assists for 41 points in 26 games in the QMJHL this season and his efforts with Team Canada should help him.

“I think it shows a self-confidence, and we’re finding that more and more players, that confidence is a big part of the success of their games.” Mann added. “It’s a big part of whether they’re able to produce or not.

“There’s just an inner self-confidence he has that he doesn’t get distracted by too many things. The part that I like about that is that I’m hoping when it comes time to be in Ottawa that he’ll have the same approach and be able to have some impact right away.”