His summer, Jordan Harris spends it a bit like most 21-year-olds, at least those who still live with their parents: he does the dishes, does the housework and passes the lawnmower.
Posted at 4:48 p.m.
“That’s how I pay the rent!” he explains, laughing at the end of the handset. I also cook my own meals…”
So yes, it’s like a lot of 21-year-old men’s daily life, with this slight difference: almost every morning, Harris shows up with other players of his caliber at a summer hockey camp, to work on his skills. Then, before meals and the mower, he practices dribbling pucks outside the family home in Haverhill, a small suburb about 30 minutes from Boston.
He didn’t always know he wanted to be a professional hockey player one day, but that’s pretty clear.
“It’s funny, because I just finished my studies [au baccalauréat en administration], and I wasn’t there to receive my diploma, because I was in Finland at the World Championship… so I just received my diploma in the mail! My parents are very proud, they always insisted on telling me that school should come first. »
“I never stopped studying”
Which is not so easy when you also play hockey. Arriving at Northeastern University in 2018, the young defenseman realized that for him, the puck had become a passion. But he never thought of dropping out of school.
“You know what that did to me, that?” It made me realize the importance of organization. I wanted to continue my studies, but when I arrived at Northeastern, I also noticed that I was going to have to be a better player, to improve a lot of things in my game. The more I advanced in my journey, the more I understood that was going to be difficult.
“But I never stopped studying. After hockey, leaving the arenas, I threw myself into my schoolwork as soon as I had the chance: in the back of a car, a bus, arriving at the hotel… I finished with a school average of 3.1. Hockey was taking up more and more of my time, but I always made sure to do my homework. »
I don’t know if I will pursue other studies later, that’s a good question… For the moment, I want to pursue a career in hockey.
Jordan Harris
This little bit of information will no doubt please the leaders of the Canadian, who see in this third-round choice (2018) a leading prospect, who could patrol the Montreal blue line for many years.
“I will be back in Montreal for training camp, and I know it will be a very important camp for me…I got a taste of the NHL last season, and only with those 10 games with the Canadiens, I learned so much: the preparation on video, the discussions with the coaches…
“I haven’t had time to get to know Luke Richardson well, who is leaving [devenir l’entraîneur des Blackhawks] in Chicago, but I’m not surprised. He is a coach who trusts his players, and in return, he gives his players confidence. I read recently that all the guys from the Canadiens loved him, and I can tell you that’s true! »
Optimistic
While waiting to return to Brossard in September, Harris will continue his little routine in his little corner of the country, where people don’t all recognize him yet (“he’s Bruins fans here”), but maybe that will change one day, in the not so distant future.
The young man is very optimistic for the future. His own, but also that of his club.
“I was watching the Avalanche play in the Grand Final, and they have a bunch of young defensemen who move the puck, who think before they make a play, who skate and who use the space on the ice. With the young defenders we’re going to have in Montreal, I think we can aspire to similar results. I think we can go down this path, too…”