AHL All-Star Classic | Memories of Mike Keane

Mike Keane is passing through town, and the first thing he noticed was that some things don’t change.

“I was the other day with Kelly Buchberger [entraîneur adjoint du Rocket], and he took me around their arena in Laval… The locker room, the color of the benches, all that made me think of the old Forum! »

The old Forum, once home to the Canadian, is no more, but in the mind of Keane, who wore the tricolor jersey for eight seasons, there is still a bit. Because it was here that Keane had some defining moments, for different reasons.

First, the striker was elected captain of the club in April 1995, a decision that caused an uproar, among other things because at the time the main interested party said that it was not necessary to speak French to live in Montreal…

“It had given a small storm, and all that is very well documented! he replies, laughing. But I had started taking French lessons when I became captain… and then I was traded with Patrick [Roy]. »

That’s the other highlight of his career here, which ironically is actually a departure. Because Keane had been part of the very huge Patrick Roy transaction in December 1995, and he had to go to Colorado with the famous goalkeeper.

“It happened so quickly and this decision of the club was made on a whim… they traded a goalkeeper who would later become a Hall of Famer like that. But at least I was happy to be able to be traded with him!

“Of course I was surprised to be included in this exchange. In a career as a hockey player, the first transaction one undergoes is always the most difficult, because one imagines staying in the same place for a long time. Montreal was the only city where I wanted to play… so it was hard to accept. It wasn’t fun at all. »

Five seasons in the American League

The end which is even more particular, if it is, it is the continuation. Because Keane, after detours to Colorado, New York with the Rangers, Dallas, St. Louis and, finally, Vancouver, found himself concluding his career… in the American League, with the Manitoba Moose.

And not just for a game or two; no, Mike Keane instead played five seasons with the Moose before retiring.

“I returned home to Manitoba [en 2005], and you have to remember that there had been a lockout just before in the NHL. It had pushed several players into retirement. I still wanted to play. It’s a fabulous game, hockey, and I wanted to continue. »

“But it was an easy decision, because at that time the Moose were managed like the Winnipeg Jets later. It was just as professional, and we were treated like NHL players. »

The only difference, he admits, was in the paychecks, which were smaller than the ones he saw at the pros. “I wasn’t even making six figures with the Moose,” he admits.

But that five-year outing in the minors, Mike Keane loved it, because he just wanted to play hockey. It is perhaps this great passion that prompted AHL leaders to name him honorary captain of the league’s All-Star game this year, presented in Laval, along with Yvon Lambert, also honorary captain.

“Nobody is going back to play in this league for the money, especially not at the end of their career like I did,” he adds. But I didn’t want to go there while waiting for the call from an NHL club. It was not my goal. I just wanted to play hockey, and that’s what I did. »