So far, the contribution of the three friends really did not go unnoticed, even allowing the National to beat the best club on the circuit Friday evening in Saint-Georges.
It was a call from the majority co-owner of the club, Jimmy Gagné, to Pierre-Cédric Labrie which tipped the balance in the last few weeks. The latter said he immediately appreciated the man associated with the return of the LNAH to the capital.
“When a good group of owners asks you for help, you listen,” explains the 38-year-old hockey player. We weren’t handed an envelope, that’s not what interests us. We were asked to come on board, to share our experience with them, to show leadership.”
Valuable advice
Pierre-Cédric Labrie was acquired by transaction in recent weeks by the National. (Caroline Grégoire/The Sun)
Head coach of the St. Lawrence Lions in college hockey, Patrick Roy’s son-in-law only played a few games with the Marquis de Jonquière last season. To have the greatest possible impact during matches, Labrie will be content with one game per week, depending on his availability.
No question, therefore, of being a “one man show» with the National, led by head coach, Daniel Gauthier.
“I told them that joining the team alone would not change anything,” continues the pride of Baie-Comeau. I’m not the hockey superstar. They listened to me and they went for the players I had recommended. I was 100% sure it would have a real impact.”
A message
To acquire his good friend Alexandre Picard, with whom Labrie won the Calder Cup in the American League in 2011-12, Francis Paré and Mathieu Tousignant (Jonquière) as well as Alex Labbé (Rivière-du- Loup), the National had to sacrifice big, notably the services of the ace scorer, Maxime St-Cyr.
Labrie played 46 career games in the National Hockey League with the Tampa Bay Lightning. (Caroline Grégoire/The Sun)
The reinforcement has so far been beneficial since the worst team in the overall LNAH standings (5-16-1-1) has an immaculate record (2-0) since the start of the new year. And it may not be over yet. “We just sent out a message, I think it’s pretty clear!” trumpets Pierre-Cédric Labrie.
At home
The 8th overall pick in the 2004 NHL Draft is savoring his final moments in our national sport. (Caroline Grégoire/The Sun)
At 39, Alexandre Picard isn’t getting any younger either, but the 8th overall pick in the 2004 NHL draft is savoring his final moments in our national sport.
The native of Les Saules is not ready to retire, but he is well aware that his best hockey is behind him.
“Just being with people chumsto end this in style, it’s the funconfides the former Columbus Blue Jackets forward. We’re trying to build something good for the people of Quebec.”
Like in the good old days
Alexandre Picard is playing for a Quebec team for the first time in more than 20 years in hockey. (Caroline Grégoire/The Sun)
Picard feels himself returning to his minor hockey years, having not played for a team from his hometown since the 2001-02 campaign. It was at the time of the Saint-François Seminary Blizzard with future Boston Bruins star Patrice Bergeron at his side.
“It’s really weird to live 10 minutes from the arena,” he continues. My family and friends are lucky enough to see me play even though it was difficult to do so when I was in the United States or Europe.”
A fragile knee
All that remains is to know if the “body will follow”. Alexandre Picard is still in good physical shape, but he has just returned to the game due to a “magané” knee, an old injury that dates back to around fifteen years ago.
Alexandre Picard acted as captain of the Marquis de Jonquière in recent seasons. (Sophie Lavoie/Archives Le Quotidien)
The passion is still there, but the father of two children aged 9 and 11 wants to show “balance”, aware that he is writing the last “chapters” of his hockey career. Her passion for real estate only continues to grow.
“If I’m not able to walk for a week after playing, it’s not much better,” philosophizes the one who leads the Cardinal-Roy M18 D1 hockey team.
“We try certain things, infiltrations and massages for example, to allow me to end the season in style.”
— Alexandre Picard, the Quebec National striker
So far, the “old guys are doing pretty well,” Picard concludes with a laugh.
The former left winger of the Sherbrooke Castors and the Lewiston MAINEiacs in the QMJHL is referring, among other things, to the 37-year-old veteran, Francis Paré, the author of five points in his first two games in the colors of the Quebec National.
Lehoux and Delisle in reserve
In the coming days, two other familiar faces of hockey in Quebec, defender Steven Delisle (34 years old) and Yanick Lehoux (42 years old), will return to the game and it is not impossible that Labrie, Paré and Picard manage to recruit other well-known names in Quebec hockey.
Yanick Lehoux in discussion with National head coach and general manager, Daniel Gauthier, and his assistant, Donald Brashear. (Caroline Grégoire/The Sun)
The return of the best point scorer in the history of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar to professional hockey is awaited… almost as much as the post-match pizza that the owner of the National, Jimmy Gagné, forgot to order on Friday evening in Saint -Georges-de-Beauce!
The honest oversight forced all the members of the club to go and have a bite to eat in a restaurant located not far from the Lacroix-Dutil Sports Center after the game.
“In addition to the pizza, he paid for the pitchers of beer, so it gave us a great team outing,” smiles Pierre-Cédric Labrie, whose primary objective is to increase the base of supporters in the coming years. weeks.
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