MONTREAL – Max Domi has met Michael Jordan, but he doesn't remember it.

"I still have a ball signed by him in my basement so that's pretty cool. I was probably three-years-old. I think there's also a picture of him holding me when I was a little baby so that's definitely pretty cool."

Domi isn't sure how he came to be held by one of the greatest basketball players to ever live. His father, former NHLer Tie Domi, was involved for sure.

And while Domi admires what Jordan was able to accomplish during his Hall-of-Fame career, he insists that his tongue-wagging goal celebration on Saturday night was not a tribute to the former Chicago Bulls star. It's just something he's always done.  

"Honestly, my mom always gives it to me, because she's like, 'Why do you always keep sticking your tongue out?'" Domi said with a laugh. "When I shoot a puck I stick my tongue out. It's just a habit. The boys find it funny so I don't know if I'm going to be able to stop. I don't know what that it is, to tell you the truth, I don't know."

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Needless to say, Domi's Canadian teammates at the World Junior Hockey Championship are ribbing the London Knights captain about the tongue-out celebration.

"It's his thing," said linemate Anthony Duclair of the New York Rangers. "Guys get a good chuckle on the bench about that so as long as he keeps scoring, he can do whatever he wants."

"I took a picture with my tongue out the other day so I love it," said defenceman Darnell Nurse, a long-time friend of Domi's. "He sticks his tongue out so nothing wrong with that."

But has Domi ever stuck his tongue out after scoring against Nurse's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds? "No, he knows better than that," said Nurse smiling broadly.

"I give it to him a lot after the game when he sticks his tongue out on the ice," said Canucks prospect Jake Virtanen, Domi's roommate at the world juniors. "He's a great player who brings a lot of passion and heart. He's always ready to go no matter what."

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Domi has had plenty of chances to show off his tongue during the world juniors. The left winger has been part of Team Canada's most consistent line alongside Duclair and centre Sam Reinhart. Head coach Benoit Groulx says Domi has not had a bad day since arriving at training camp on Dec. 11.

"It's obvious he loves the game and wants to make the difference and when he does, he lets his passion speak," said Groulx.

"He plays at a high intensity," said Canadian captain Curtis Lazar. "He loves to skate. He's all over the ice and he has some fun too. You see him out there and he's always smiling. He's an energetic guy and he really does lead by example."

When the constantly-grinning Lazar is complimenting your smile, then you know you've made an impact.

Domi has been ho-hum about his success so far preferring to heap praise on his linemates. On Reinhart's pass that led to his goal against Germany on Saturday: "That was a gift. I guess Christmas came a couple days late for me. That was a tap in," he said before adding sarcastically, "I really had to pick the corner."

Last year, Domi was surprisingly not invited to Team Canada's selection camp. It was obviously disappointing, but the 19-year-old Arizona Coyotes first-round pick (taken 12th overall in 2013 NHL draft) is now making up for lost time.

"This is what I'm here to do: play hockey," he said. "I take pride in that every day whether I'm in London or here. I'm just having fun myself and with my teammates."

Lazar suggested Domi's feisty play may have been inherited from his father, Tie, who was a well-known enforcer during his playing days spent with the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets.

Tie Domi has declined interview requests during the world juniors allowing his son to have the stage to himself. He has, of course, been in Montreal watching with pride. At the buzzer on Saturday night he gave goalie Eric Comrie's parents a big hug. The two families are close and Bill Comrie actually coached Max in summer hockey (Max refers to him as "Coach Bill"). But other than that display of affection, Tie Domi has been as anonymous as any other hockey parent.

"It's pretty cool," Max said. "I mean, he likes being low key and flying under the radar for sure so he does what he wants and as long as I'm playing hockey and playing hard he's a happy guy."

Two games into the world juniors, Tie Domi must be a very happy man.