Benoit Groulx is looking for consistency
Training camp is done, the line-up is set and the pre-season games have all been played. Without a doubt, the Gatineau Olympiques are more than ready to start off their 43rd season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) this Friday, September 11th, at home against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.
Unlike last season, when they started the campaign with nine players out with minor injuries and three who were done for the season, this year Benoit Groulx’s boys are fit and ready. “The hurdle of training camp is done, and we are happy to have been spared too many bumps and bruises.”
“This year, we have put more emphasis on prevention than on recovery,” explains the Head Coach and Director General of the Olympiques, while underlining the fantastic work of the team’s physiotherapist, Sébastien Laplante.
Lots of Rookies
For the 2015-2016 season, the Olympiques’s line-up is made up of three 16 year-olds, five 17 year-olds, six 18 year-olds, and six and three who have reached their 19th and 20th birthdays respectively. From this group, there are a total of 7 rookies to the league.
“We have a good mix of rookies and veterans. With this group of players, we will be able to progress all through the season,” said Groulx. “We are going to be a team that can compete, night after night. Above all, we are looking for consistency from our game. The goal is to finish the season as high as possible in the standings and have a place in the playoffs.”
Among the Gatineau newbies there are two goaltenders: Mathieu Bellemare and Taylor Bo, aged 17 and 18 respectively. What is the difference between the two net minders? Sure, each has their own style of play, but there is also the fact that Bellemare is 5’7” while Bo stands 6’2”.
“It has been many years since we have had two young goaltenders of this caliber in Gatineau. For the moment, we still don’t know who will be number 1. The guy who shows us his best stuff every day is going to get his chance” added Groulx.
The other rookies are forwards Anthony Gagon, 16, Vincent Milot-Ouellet, 17, Jeffery Durocher, 16, and Russian Vitalii Abramov, who is 17. The sole rookie defenceman this year is Simon Messier, who is also 17.
An experienced Defence
With seven veterans returning along the blue line, defense will surely be the Olympiques’ strong suit this season. Among the returnees are Elie Bérubé, scorer of 26 and 34 points in his last two seasons with Gatineau and who is entering his fifth season in the QMJHL. Also back, Alexandre Carrier who scored 28 and 55 points in his last two campaigns with Gatineau and who will be playing in his fourth season in the Q. On a side note, these two also happen to be the only two Olympique defensemen under 6 feet tall this season.
“Bérubé and Carrier are our defensive leaders because they have enormous experience in the league, but we have six defensemen who can perform against any attacking trio they encounter” declared Groulx.
The Gatineau Blue-line will be none too shabby this season, with duos made of Marc-Olivier Crevier-Morin, who excels defensively, Matt Sartoris, a 6’6” giant, and Alex Breton and Jonathon Masters who had an excellent rookie season with plus/minus’s of +11 and +12 respectively. Also add to the mix Gabriel Bilodeau who has 31 league games under his belt and rookie Simon Messier.
Don’t overlook the offense
While the Olympiques will be known for their defensive play, it would be wrong for anyone to underestimate their attack. At the time of writing the forward trios are not yet set, but one thing is certain; Groulx expects Tommy Veilleux, Yan-Pavel Laplante, Alex Dostie and Yakov Trenin to be the engine of his forward formation. Last season, these above players scored 30, 42, 54, and 67 in their turn, all with a shot percentage of between 12 and 19%. Of note, Trenin finished his rookie season last year as second in team scoring.
“We are currently looking for the best possible combinations. We want offense to come from all four trios”, explained Groulx.
Groulx and his protégés will commence their 43rd season this coming Friday, at the Robert-Guertin Centre in Gatineau.
