(Brossard) Legend will say that Alex Belzile made Jesse Ylönen wait for more than half an hour before taking him home after the Montreal Canadiens skills competition.
Belzile, however, had a good reason to test the patience of the Finn on Sunday. He was still on the Bell Center ice, busy signing autographs and taking selfies with the fans.
“I did this for the fans who had taken the time to travel,” Belzile said Monday. When I was young, I loved watching skills competitions. I think everyone had fun. »
The few reporters who were at the Bell Center covering the skills competition had asked to speak to Belzile after the event. The representative of the Canadian communications team on site instead let Belzile continue signing autographs. He finally gave up and sent the reporters back to the work room rather than continue to wait in the conference room. He added that only Belzile and Ylönen remained, who was waiting to be taken home by the Quebecer.
It was therefore important for Belzile to take his time with each supporter.
“I’m still in a position where I can’t sit on my laurels and take it lightly,” said the man who has played 10 games with the Habs since his recall from the Laval Rocket in January.
“I enjoy every day and I give my all, added Belzile. A day like this, when you have the opportunity to interact with the fans, it’s nice. »
Belzile was one of the stars of the event. To everyone’s surprise, he won the contest for the fastest skater.
“All my life, I had the label of a slow player. It was good to prove that I’m not that slow,” he said with a broad smile.
Defender Johnathan Kovacevic, who finished second, laughed after the event to say that Belzile had gained momentum by starting his run a little further from the red line.
“Anyway, if I had lost, I wouldn’t have had that kind of excuse,” laughed Belzile.
This type of exchange represents the camaraderie within the group and the beneficial effect of the competition during a long season.
Belzile also hopes that his time with fans will make the players more human to them. After all, hockey players are more than numbers on jerseys or goal and assist statistics.
“It can allow you to have a different perception of the players, recalled Belzile. We are closer to people and we can interact directly with them. »
“Usually they only see us from afar, when we’re focused on the ice. There we were able to take our time and be there for them,” he added.
To the point where his carpooling partner has to hang around for more than half an hour!