In Conversation: Mooseheads right-wing Raphaël Lavoie
The Edmonton Oilers have a blossoming power forward in Halifax Mooseheads right-wing Raphaël Lavoie.
Selected 38th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft, Lavoie recently spoke with Junior Hockey Magazine about his experience at the 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series, how he plans to earn a spot at this winter’s world juniors, and an intriguing new diet and fitness plan that is helping him prepare for next year’s NHL camp:
Junior Hockey Magazine: You led the QMJHL in scoring with two goals and one assist in the two games against Russia at the 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series. Walk me back through the series and tell me how you think you did.
Raphaël Lavoie: I think I did pretty well. I had a good opportunity to showcase what I can do on the ice and I think I did pretty good. It was a tough series. The Russians are pretty good and we’re happy we won the second game.
JHM: Have you had any conversations with Team Canada head coach Dale Hunter in looking ahead to the world juniors? What has he been able to tell you so far?
RL: He hasn’t give me many details about the world juniors, but he just congratulated me on the game told me I did good.
JHM: What did you take away from the experience of last year’s world junior selection camp and how are you a different player this time than you were last year?
RL: Mostly how hard it is to make Team Canada. We’re a really good hockey country and there is a lot of competition to make that team. I am a bit stronger than last year. You get older, you get better as a player. I am hoping that will be enough to make the team.
JHM: How much conversation have you had with Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland?
RL: I am mostly speaking with Scott Howson, a development guy for the Oilers. I’m not really in contact with Kenny. They’re putting me on a nutrition program and hopefully I’ll gain some weight and get bigger.
JHM: Give me an idea of what the new diet is all about and what the hope is there.
RL: The hope is just to feel better in training hard. You need to eat well if you want to be able to train hard. It’s going to be more effective if I have better nutrition. I started it this summer and it’s really been helping me.
JHM: Do you start to dream and imagine what it would be like to jump into the Oilers roster and where you could slot in given your skill set and how it’s different than what they currently have at the NHL level right now?
RL: What I can tell you is if they are on the Oilers roster then they have to be pretty good. I went to camp and the guys are pretty good over there. I think every player has been dreaming about playing on an NHL roster since they were a kid. Obviously I want to be there and we’ll see how it goes when I get there next year.
JHM: Back at the under-18s in Russia in 2018, you had five goals in five games during that tournament. What did you take away from that experience there that you hope be able to use internationally this Christmas?
RL: How nice the experience was. It wasn’t the outcome we hoped for it but it was a really good tournament and a lot of fun.
JHM: What would it mean to you to be able to wear a Team Canada jersey this year at the world juniors?
RL: It would be an honour. It’s always a great honour to be able to represent your country. We’re all working hard for it, and only a few lucky guys get to do it, so it would mean a lot to me.