Nathan Gaucher is already ready to fall back from his cloud. Gold medalist with Junior Team Canada last Friday, the 19-year-old forward was back in the Old Capital on Monday night with one goal in mind: to once again experience the excitement of a championship but, this time, with his Quebec Remparts teammates.
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The Red Devils had given him a few days off to savor his second gold medal in just over four months, with his family. Returning Monday, he skated solo in the late afternoon to prepare for the three-game, four-day trip to the Maritimes, starting Wednesday in Moncton.
“When you come back to your team, you want to have an impact, he mentioned a few minutes before jumping on the ice. I learned this summer [après la conquête de l’or en août] that you had to be ready right away and not live too much in the past. It will be important for me, especially with the team we have. We want to string together the victories and I really want to bring back all the positives that I learned from this tournament, with the Remparts. »
Gaucher is so ready to contribute that he didn’t even know if he was going to take advantage of the offer from Patrick Roy who, last weekend, had opened the door to give him a week off after the trip to Eastern Canada.
“This week I’m going to play and then I don’t know if it will be necessary to have time off. Once you’re in the wheel, you don’t want to stop too much. Of course, recovery will be the key but we will discuss it [avec Roy] “, he mentioned.
A beneficial experience
Placed in a supporting role in August, Gaucher was an important part of ECJ’s latest conquest in Halifax. Used both on advantage and shorthanded, in addition to pivoting the team’s third line, Gaucher believes he has grown from his experience.
“I gained the coach’s trust throughout the tournament and played my part. I’m happy with my game but the most important thing is that I helped the team win. »
And while he was trying to help his team win, Gaucher watched out of the corner of his eye the actions of the Remparts on the ice, as well as the transactions made by Patrick Roy. He is now expected to form a line with James Malatesta and the team’s newest acquisition, Justin Robidas.
“Justin is a natural leader. He’s a pretty quiet guy but he sets an example by his way of doing things. He works hard. I watched the Remparts games and he and James were tiring on the forecheck and that’s what we want to do. I want to bring depth to this line. »
Bedard: no distractions
If Gaucher had the gold medal around his neck on his return to Quebec, it was largely thanks to the young Connor Bedard who rewrote the Canadian record book at the last World Cup.
The center of media attention for the entire event, Bedard was not a distraction for the team, assures Gaucher.
“We wanted him to be successful because it made us win. He helped us so much. Yes, there was a lot of attention on him but he didn’t get his head blown about it. He wasn’t going to the other guys to tell them he just made seven points. He wasn’t taunting anyone. He talked to everyone and, although he was a bit on a pedestal, he didn’t act like that. »
“Just” frustration
In Quebec, no. 91 will also join Zachary Bolduc, whose comments to Hockey Canada caused a stir after he was cut by the national team.
Asked about it by a colleague, he did not want to add fuel to the fire.
“I understood his frustration,” he admitted. Everyone wants to make this team and it’s hard to do that. Team Canada went in a direction that for them was the decision to make. It’s hard for me to add anything to what Zach said. His frustration was right and now he is doing very well with the Remparts. On our side, we won a championship so all’s well that ends well. Now I’m back, I’m going to talk to him a bit and we’re going to focus on the Remparts. This will be the most important. »