The Phoenix – Ready to Take Flight
The Phoenix has reached maturity. In only its 4th year of existence, the new organisation from Sherbrooke isn’t hiding the fact that they not only want to take on the best teams in the QMJHL but who knows, maybe even take home the big prizes too.
‘Anything can happen in junior hockey and lots of factors can get you off your plan. For us at least, we are happy to have expectations. We have kept certain guidelines which have allowed us to dream of big things this season,’ declared General Manager Patrick Charbonneau, during team training camp.
There are certain changes at the heart of the Phoenix to take note of for 2015-2016. Guillaume Gauthier and Julien Pelletier have been added to the mix, and are such first class forwards that the team decided it could put the young 17 year-old goalie, Evan Fitzpatrick, between the pipes. Sherbrooke will count on a bunch of seasoned defensemen, lead by new captain Carl Neill, and the recent second round pick of the San Jose Sharks, Jérémy Roy. Add to this the names of Alexis Vanier, Julien Bahl and of Thomas Grégoire, and Sherbrooke will have one of the most solid defensive lines in the league.
‘I think that very few teams in the Q can count on so much experience on the blue line. We have great depth on defence, especially since the acquisition of Skylar Strumas, who played 65 games with Baie-Comeau last year. We realized last season that we needed more depth on defence. When Roy was out for the second half of the year it left us in a bad position. It was important for us to improve in this area’, added Charbonneau.
Number 1 at 17
As for the new number 1 goalie, it seems that the Nova Scotia native showed up at training camp with whole new attitude.
‘Since around Christmas time last year, Evan has changed his approach to games. He started to realize what his job was (to be our starting goalie). He is clearly playing a more mature game. It is also his draft year, so he knows he has to be in top shape, not only to win games for Sherbrook but also to catch the attention of the scouts. We are not nervous at all with Fitz, he is an incredible talent and he is ready’, bragged the Sherbrooke GM, himself a third round pick of the Ottawa Senators in 1993.
The Phoenix has added veteran Alexandre Lagacé to back up the young Fitzpatrick in net – a good insurance policy according to Charbonneau.
‘We acquired Alexandre Lagacé to compliment Fitzpatrick. He did well in camp and we have confidence putting him in our net. There are not many experienced guys around the league at this position. Several other teams are in the same position as us, but it doesn’t worry me.’
Gauthier and Pelletier fill a need
The Sherbrookers hope to add some experience up front to help out the two formidable playmakers Daniel Audette and Kay Schweri. Patrick Charbonneau is hoping that his two summer additions, Guillaume Gauthier from the Remparts and Julien Pelletier from the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies are up to the task.
‘We think that Audette and Schweri needed a partner, someone dangerous around the net. Gauthier and Pelletier both have an excellent shot and are always a menace in the crease. With the loss of David Storto, who will wear the uniform of the McGill Redmen this year, it has become an even more pressing need. We were looking for guys who would fit in well with our philosophy and we think that we have found them. Gauthier has a lot of experience and that is going to help us. And don’t forget the healthy return of Vincent Deslauriers who hardly played at all last season.’
Storto’s departure has forced the Phoenix to start the campaign with under the league limit of three 20-year-old players. Gauthier and Alexis Vanier are the only two on the team to have reached that birthday; a situation that suggests a possible trade?
‘Not necessarily! We foresaw keeping a spot open for Storto, but he preferred to move on right away to university – we could not have foreseen that. I’m not discarding the possibility of making and new acquisition if I think it might help us, but for the moment I want to start the season as we are and possibly reconsider in October or November. I have several players who can count 4 years of play in the QMJHL under their belt. I think we have a lot of experience without necessarily going out and looking for more.
Among the many notable changes in the off-season, The Phoenix has hired Jean Gagnon to head up Hockey Personnel. Gagnon will also occupy the post of assistant to the General Manager. This is an important new voice that will be added to the Phoenix’ offices. There’s no doubting it now, the firebirds have displayed their colours; now they have to take flight.
Translation: Richard Dumas
