I have been visiting young people at CHU Sainte-Justine for almost 50 years now, with Expos players, Yay! and now with the Canadiens players. Recently, I was walking on the press bridge of the Canadian when a man in his thirties approached me to greet me.
After a few moments, he tells me he's a LaSalle police officer, but tonight he was at the game as an NHL emergency goalie. That's not why he called me out. Patrick Chèvrefils wanted to thank me, because when he was hospitalized at CHU Sainte-Justine, I took the time to comfort his parents. As for him, that day he met one of his two childhood heroes, Larry Walker, and both wore the number 33, the other was Patrick Roy. How can a simple hello leave its mark on a young boy and his family?
First of all, what is the role of an emergency goalie in the NHL?
I attend Canadian home games and the first thing I do when I arrive is head to the visiting club's locker room to drop off my equipment bag. Neither seen nor known, but I am ready if one of the two goalkeepers gets injured.
You are a native of Châteauguay.
My sister, Nathalie, and I were blessed to be able to count on our parents, Diane and Normand, who allowed us to live our childhood dreams, which were very expensive. My sister took ballet classes at the École des ballets canadiennes while I was a goalie.
What influence did your parents have?
My mother was a teacher and she motivated me to always give the best of myself, whatever my choice. Half measures or trying to find an easy way out to succeed were not solutions for her.
Your father was a goalie.
Without a doubt, he was an influence on my hockey life, as I wanted to become a goalie when I was younger. He accompanied me every month until I turned 18 for my health check-up or my treatments without ever complaining. The journey from Châteauguay to CHU Sainte-Justine was not a routine journey, especially in winter.
Resilience was part of your youth.
It all started with mononucleosis and, subsequently, I had severe asthma problems, so much so that I had an inhaler compressor at home, not to mention the corticosteroid pumps which reduce the inflammation of the bronchi. Since I was 14, I no longer need to use these pumps, but I still have them at home.
You woke up to Larry Walker watching.
When I was 5 years old, I had just had my tonsils removed. When I woke up in my room, I was faced with Larry Walker, who became my idol, and Yay! And you. It's a moment that I've never forgotten and that's why I wanted to thank you for being there.
For a moment, you were a fighter.
I was employed by the SPVM, just as I am today, for 15 years now. When I learned that one of the best wrestlers in the world, Kevin Owens, was training at Torcher Chambers, I signed up. For seven years, I fought in different cities in Quebec while being an SPVM police officer.
How do you manage your days?
I just coordinated everything around my police schedule. I have never taken a sick day to practice my other activities, however my vacations and leave allow me to do them.
You were a group manager at McDonald's.
I worked for seven years at McDonald's, and in the last few years, I was a group manager. I've never had to work anywhere else. I attended CEGEP Maisonneuve in police techniques and I traveled with my BMW, that is to say Bus-Métro-Walk. Occasionally, I would fall asleep and miss my outing to Pie-IX.
The death of your father affected you greatly.
I am carrying out a police intervention at the hospital. My cell phone rings and, for a rare time, it's my father who calls me. “ Chicoit's your father, I'm very sad to tell you that my cancer is getting worse. The doctors advised me that I was in the terminal phase of my life. »
Guillaume Latendresse gave you your chance.
I had established a friendly relationship with him and one day he had to undergo rehabilitation and trained at the Candiac arena. I made him understand that if he needed a goalkeeper, I would be available.
You shared the net with Carey Price.
During the last player conflict with the NHL, I was invited to join the players' training sessions. Among the goaltenders were Carey Price, Marc-André Fleury and Corey Crawford.
On two occasions, you fulfilled the role of emergency guard.
I once stayed in the Blue Jackets locker room, but I had an unforgettable experience with the Panthers. I joined the team as a backup goalie due to an injury to one of their goaltenders.
Matthew Tkachuk grabbed you by the neck to take you back to the players' locker room.
I'm amazed, because I'm sitting in the locker room and I'm in the coach's meeting, and after the game they shook my hand to thank me. Without ever having asked for it, the Panthers awarded me the number 50, the same number that my father always wore. I wish he could have experienced this moment.
You will marry Alexandra in the coming months.
I am very lucky to have him in my life. She allows me to live my dream and, above all, we try to realize our common dream of having a child.
