MONTREAL | “In a normal life, I wouldn’t stand a chance of winning a position with Team Canada for the Olympics. It took an exceptional situation to give me a chance. “
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From his home in Rögle, Sweden, Éric Gélinas has a smile in his voice as he talks about his possible participation in the 2022 Olympic Games.
With less than two months to go until the opening ceremony on February 4 in Beijing, the leaders of the Canadian team will have to look to a plan B to build their roster. As was the case in Pyeongchang, South Korea in 2018, the Canadian team should bet on several hockey players who roll their bumps in Europe.
Gélinas is part of this group. At 30, he returned to Sweden after a quick stint with the Carolina Hurricanes during last camp.
“I know that my agents wanted to get in touch with the leaders of the Canadian team to show our interest,” admitted Gélinas. I have seen a few articles since the rumor circulated about the absence of the NHL players in Beijing. I saw that my name came up several times. I have expressed my desire to participate in the Olympic Games. I just hope they have an interest in me. “
“I know players who experienced the Olympics in 2018 and they all loved it. It wasn’t the normal Olympics experience, but it was still unique. “
Two dreams
In 2018, Canada won the bronze medal with a team that included goaltender Kevin Poulin, defensemen Marc-André Gragnani and Maxim Noreau and winger Maxim Lapierre. Rene Bourque and Derek Roy were also part of the adventure.
Gelinas will now cross his fingers to follow a similar path.
“I wish I could say one day that I am an Olympian. There are two dreams growing up as a hockey player: winning the Stanley Cup and winning a gold medal at the Olympics. “
“I didn’t win the cup. If I have the chance to represent Canada at the Olympics, I would be really proud of it. In a regular context, the Canadian team for the Olympic Games is the most difficult to break through in the world. It’s not the talent that would have been lacking if the NHL guys had been in it. “
Missed experience
A teammate with Moritz Seider, the excellent rookie of the Detroit Red Wings, last year at Rögle, Sweden, Gélinas had hopes of relaunching his career in North America this fall.
But he didn’t have the experience he wanted. Entrenched in the Hurricanes camp, he played only nine games with the Chicago Wolves in the American League.
“The goal for me was to get back into the NHL and I did everything to impress the Hurricanes,” said Gélinas. When I left camp in Carolina, Don Waddell (General Manager) and Rod Brind’Amour (Head Coach) had great words about me. They were keeping only seven defenders. They told me they wanted to call me back in case of injuries. In Chicago in the American League, things weren’t going so well. Sometimes there is politics that you don’t control. I was also injured at the start of the season and the plans have changed. I was not happy in the American League. Before losing confidence and having no more fun, I chose to return to Sweden in Rögle. “
Prior to leaving for Europe in 2018-19, Gélinas played 189 NHL games with the New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche. He also wore the colors of the Laval Rocket in 2017-2018.