(Laval) Last Wednesday, Éric Gélinas participated in a garage league match in Brossard with some former Canadiens and staff members, among whom we found Paul Byron and Francis Bouillon.
Fast forward to Tuesday noon, on the other side of Montreal. Gélinas still shared the ice rink with Byron and Bouillon. But they were in coaching tracksuits, while Gélinas wore a Rocket jersey.
What happened in the meantime? Gélinas received an invitation on Monday to try his luck at the Laval camp.
“I must have played a good game last Wednesday! », joked Gélinas on Tuesday in the Rocket locker room.
This return to Laval was not in the cards for the great defender. A member of the Rocket during the first season in Laval, in 2017-2018, he has since moved to Europe, where he played in Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland, with a nine-game interlude in the Rocket’s school club. Hurricanes two years ago.
Hip surgery
He was happy in Switzerland – who wouldn’t be? –, but his body was less so. On April 22, he had hip surgery, a decision for hockey, but also for daily life.
“I couldn’t walk around the block without being in pain,” he describes. At the end of the season, I had inflammation and it was waking me up at night. Walking was unpleasant. I had my first hip done two years ago, so I knew what to expect. »
“It wasn’t fun living with constant pain outside of hockey. So we decided that I would have surgery. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to play. »
My groins were often torn, my back hurt. I think we found the source.
Eric Gelinas
However, the operation meant that he knew he would not be ready for the start of the season in Europe. In Switzerland, the season opened on September 17. He hoped to land a contract in mid-October, when a hiring window opens, he explains. That’s where the Rocket’s invitation came.
Gélinas is the first to concede that he is not arriving in optimal shape. “They know what I did this summer. I didn’t sit around doing nothing, I worked out to rebuild my hips. I just had fewer reps on the ice,” he explains.
“I have enough hockey in my baggage that I’m not worried that it will come back quickly. It’s just finding my bearings. […] I’m no longer at the stage where I’m chasing the NHL. I did it two years ago, it didn’t work and I mourned it. »
Gélinas hopes to find his place on a team looking for veterans to mentor prospects, an experience he had in Sweden when he was partnered with 19-year-old Mortiz Seider. Additionally, the Rocket currently only has four players who meet the American League veteran criteria; a fifth, Alex Barré-Boulet, could be added if he is cut by the CH. American League teams are allowed a maximum of six veterans per game.
“The role of mentoring a young person is what I am looking for. Perform well, help and play my hockey… There, I have two new hips, I’m in good hands! »
For his part, Pascal Vincent remained cautious. “We talked about adding a few players because we wanted to play two games and his name came up quickly,” said the Rocket head coach. I know him because he has been in the hockey world for a long time, I coached against him in junior and he has already played here. The ball is in his court. »