Ethan Gauthier and Mathieu Cataford have known each other for a long time and have, over the years, developed a bond of friendship that still lasts today. But it is not only this link that unites the only two Quebec representatives with Team Canada Junior (ECJ), there is also the assistant coach of the national team, Sylvain Favreau.
The latter played an important role in the fact that Gauthier and Cataford are now among the best junior players in the country. No, we are not saying that they would not have carved out a place for themselves with ÉCJ had it not been for the presence of Favreau, on the contrary. Anyone who was at the ECJ camp will be able to confirm that both Gauthier and Cataford earned their place with the national team.
But it is also obvious that Favreau had good words for the two Quebec attackers, behind closed doors. Because he knows them better than anyone else internally, and not just because all three of them are in the QMJHL.
He led them both
Favreau began his journey as head coach in the Cecchini circuit in 2021-2022, with the Halifax Mooseheads, who, a few months earlier, had claimed Cataford sixth overall in the QMJHL draft. From his first season, he became an important piece of the Mooseheads. Cataford subsequently played its second season under Favreau in 2022-2023, playing a leading role towards a presence in the circuit final, which Halifax lost to the Quebec Remparts.
Favreau subsequently decided to leave Halifax and accepted the same position with the Voltigeurs de Drummondville, a team which had just acquired a certain Ethan Gauthier from the Sherbrooke Phoenix. From their first year together, last season, Gauthier and Favreau joined forces to lead the team to win the Gilles-Courteau trophy.
“Sylvain, he’s the best coach I’ve had in my life,” Gauthier did not hesitate to say during a discussion with The Journalin Ottawa, two weeks ago. “He’s so calm and everything he does is thoughtful. He doesn’t do anything out of emotion and that’s how he earns the respect of the guys.”
“He’s really calm,” Cataford confirmed. He is intelligent and knows what he is doing. He is a coach who puts a lot of effort into the player development aspect. At 16, sometimes I wondered why I played on a fourth line and he explained to me that it was part of the process. Now I think I understand better why he made those decisions and that helped me.”
Together for gold
Favreau therefore experienced with Cataford the pitiless feeling of emptiness that comes with a defeat in the final, then the exhilarating euphoria of a championship with Gauthier.
It is on this side that the three representatives of the QMJHL now hope to find themselves, on January 5.
For Favreau, it will be a special tournament, since he is a native of Orléans, not far from Ottawa.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been back to TD Place, where I played my minor hockey. I also have memories of the 2009 World Juniors, as a spectator. It will be a special moment also to have two guys that I managed with me.”
Many believe that Favreau will be the next QMJHL coach to turn professional. Let's just say that a gold medal would not be a trivial feat to add to one's CV
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