Do you find that the alarm goes off early when your youngest has a workout at 7 a.m. on Saturday morning? Are you saying that Jean-François Grégoire has imposed himself much worse than that!
Grégoire is the head coach of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. He is also the father of striker Jérémy Grégoire, a former prospect for the Canadiens, who returned this week to Place Bell for the first time since leaving the organization in 2018.
Jérémy Grégoire and the Stars of Texas therefore landed in Laval last Wednesday. For its part, the Drakkar had training planned in Baie-Comeau that day, another Thursday, then the crossing to Rimouski to face the Oceanic there on Friday.
So what did Jean-François Grégoire do? A Baie-Comeau – Laval return trip in one day, of course! Not by plane. Not by TGV either, because the project for a line between the Côte-Nord and Montreal has not yet seen the light of day. He traveled the 1372 km round trip… by car!
“I left on Wednesday after our video meetings with the players. My assistants led the ice training, ”he explained. The team resumed training Thursday morning at 9 a.m. And despite a Rocket game that ended at 10 p.m., he made it in time for training the next day!
PHOTO PROVIDED BY JEAN-FRANÇOIS GRÉGOIRE
Jérémy and Jean-François Grégoire
If I’m tired, I stop. But I’m used to riding the bus. I’m tough on it, but I don’t want it to be dangerous either!
Jean-Francois Grégoire
But the question that crosses the mind: why then impose such a schedule?
“Because it’s been two years since I saw him play!” he answers tit for tat. The last time was in Tucson with my wife before the pandemic. They don’t come to Laval often. I don’t see him often, it’s a great opportunity to encourage him.
“With our young people, hockey goes quickly. Whether he’s 6, 20, or 30, I want to see him as often as possible! ”
Jérémy Grégoire, for his part, says he is “really happy” to have his father here. Her mother, Julie, couldn’t break free from her work obligations that day.
“It took four years before I came back and you never know when the luck will return.” I find myself lucky that he comes all the way to come and see me play. My parents love me and we are a united family. ”
From the mileage
A united family, but also a family where hockey takes up a lot, a lot of space.
Jean-François, the father, rolled his bump as a player, and has now done so as a coach in the QMJHL since 2014. The youngest, Thomas, plays in the Finnish first division, for the club of Lukko, for the second season in a row , after two seasons in the American League. And Jérémy was playing his 344 on Wednesdaye game in the American League.
“A chance that we have FaceTime ! », Jérémy said.
And when we talk about loving hockey… Jérémy Grégoire does not know the hoped-for debut in Texas. He has already been sidelined 7 times this season, after 17 games. For a young man who has always been good in school, there are plenty of options when he stops playing hockey.
Gregory has been in the American League for six years, he is still waiting for a first game in the NHL. By doing the additional reservist exercises seven times rather than once, did he begin to think that it would be better to think of other options?
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Jérémy Grégoire in training last Wednesday before the game against the Laval Rocket
“It wasn’t easy, for sure it crosses your mind,” he agreed. But at the same time, you get back to basics. Why are you playing? I love hockey, I’m good, I’m a good player, so I want to keep going. From there, it’s coming back with a rookie mentality. When I was a rookie, I stayed after training, I worked harder and that’s how I progressed. ”
Grégoire did not score Wednesday, but he came very close early in the game, when a puck landed on his paddle in the slot, before pouncing.
But Grégoire has 49 goals in 344 games. If he still has his place in the NHL’s lobby, it’s not because of his offensive production, but rather because of his intensity and determination. No doubt also that a positive attitude did not harm him!