Marc Denis: “My blood still runs blue and I still have the Sags logo on my heart”
There are some years it feels like everything is happening all at once. While attending Marc Denis’ jersey retirement ceremony with the Midget AAA Estacades, the team at QMJHL.QC.CA caught up the former goalie leading up to his joining QMJHL immortals on Wednesday.
“No one is ever ready to receive praise. I was very touched when Mr. Courteau told me about my induction to the QMJHL Hall of Fame. Then there was this ceremony with the Estacades. We don’t play the game for honours like this, but we can use these moments to pass on certain values to young players of today. In my case, it is a story of perseverance,” explained the reflective 40-year-old former goaltender.
Denis spent his entire junior career in Chicoutimi. Among the best at his position, he was also invited to represent his country at both the junior and pro levels. He is a two-time gold medal winner at the World Juniors for Canada. That being said, that wasn’t fondest memory from his playing days.
“For sure that’s right up there, but Canada has always a world power and that was the fifth straight gold for Canada. From a personal standpoint, the much greater at the Memorial Cup,” recalls Denis.
In the spring of 1997, Denis and the Saguenéens had lost in the President’s Cup final to the Hull Olympiques. Hosts of the Memorial Cup that year, the Claude-Julien-led Olympiques has an automatic berth in the tournament which meant the Sags were also invited for reaching the Q final.
This afforded Denis and the Sagueneens another shot, but, alas, they failed to even win a game at the tournament.
“We had a pretty average team. No predicted us to be one of the best junior teams in the country that year. Taking part in the QMJHL Final and then to earn an invite to the Memorial Cup was victory in of itself for us. It was my last junior season and final chance to get there. It’s a bittersweet memory for me!”
A professional in everything he does
Denis then enjoyed an NHL career that saw him suit up for the Avalanche, the Lightning, the Blue Jackets and the Montreal Canadiens.
Denis will see his career honoured along with Danny Groulx, Vincent Lecavalier, Stephane Quintal and Eric Taylor.
“It’s already quite an honour to be selected and then to also do so with other guys who had incredible careers. I spoke to “Q” (Stephane Quintal) in the days following the announcement… I never thought it would happen,” smiled Denis.
An adopted son
Analyst for Canadiens’ broadcasts on RDS, Marc Denis is no stranger to a busy schedule. Between stops in Chicago, Dallas, Calgary and Washington, he finds time to make a stop in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean.
Vice-President of Hockey Operations for the Saguenéens, Denis has made it a point to give back to the organization that allowed him to shine and catch the eye of NHL scouts.
“It was a fair exchange that I could now share my experience with the team’s young players of today. There is also a little bit of a self-serving purpose to all this. This team hasn’t reached the Memorial Cup since we did in 1997. Various circumstances have led to those results, but today I hope to help change that since my heart still bleeds for this team. I say it often how I still have blue blood and the Sags in my heart. I want to be involved.”
Marc Denis also has a second home in Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean where he spends part of the summer with his children.
