Ramparts: the series, “it’s guaranteed”

The Remparts will begin their 2024-2025 season on Friday night with a team almost half composed of 16- and 17-year-old players. Regardless, forward Xavier Lebel does not intend to relive last year’s disappointment: “We’re going to make the playoffs this year. That’s guaranteed.”

The promise may seem modest given that 16 of the 18 teams in the QMJHL participate in the playoffs every year, but six months after missing the series by one point, the Remparts right winger clearly hasn’t quite digested it yet.

There is no question, therefore, of being only in the mixthis new expression found by the leaders of the Montreal Canadiens to avoid setting a clear objective.

We’ll make the series, then the rest, we’ll see. I don’t think our age will have an impact on our game.says Xavier Lebel a few days before the opening match against the Chicoutimi Saguenéens.

We’re so excited that we almost can’t wait anymore. The intensity was there during the preseason games and we want to bring it right from the start to the Videotron Centre.

Veilleux does not joke with intensity

However, Éric Veilleux also demands this intensity in training. On Tuesday morning, the Remparts head coach did not hesitate to interrupt practice to make it very clear to his young players that they were dragging their feet.

The level of competition, the hard work and being difficult to face, we want that to be part of our identity. […] I’m made the same way, it won’t changeVeilleux said as he came off the ice, targeting his good young talented players.

If you don’t work, it’s rare that the wind will turn in your favor, whether you have talent or not. We want to put that in place even if we are young. We think that it will pay off later. says the player who has three 16-year-old forwards in his lineup, namely Maddox Dagenais, Jayden Rousseau and Ryan Howard.

A surprise to create

Having himself experienced the QMJHL At 16 years old last season, Xavier Lebel has every intention of helping his young teammates.

I’m going to try to be a bit of a mentor. I know what the expectations are that the coaches, your teammates and the fans have.describes the author of 11 goals and 17 assists in 65 games in his rookie season.

The first game at the Videotron Centre, there will certainly be some butterflies. We won’t talk about it as a life or death situation. After that, the season continuesrecalls Éric Veilleux.

The same goes for goalkeeper Louis-Antoine Denault, who believes that the Red Devils will have to find a certain chemistry at the start of the season, with so many new faces in the team.

We know we won’t be first in the league, but I think if we work hard every day and compete, we have a good chance of creating a surprise.