Launching your own clothing collection at 22? It is the ambitious project of a former hope of the Canadian, who refuses to let himself be defeated by a damning inflammation.
The player in question is Jacob LeGuerrier, a defenseman drafted at 126e ranked by the Habs in 2019. The Franco-Ontarian has never played for the CH, but played four games with the Laval Rocket during the 2021 season, the one where the farm club played at the Bell Center, behind closed doors .
These memories are, however, very distant, since his career is on hiatus. The reason: myocarditis which has slowed him down since April 2022.
LeGuerrier remains hopeful of returning to acting, but in the meantime he has launched the Heartline Apparel clothing collection, a project he is doing in parallel with his studies in health sciences at the University of Ottawa.
He intends to donate 50% of profits to research into cardiovascular diseases. “With each merchandise launch, I would like to choose a different cause. This is the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. But I would also like to give to Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, in the United States, to reach as many people as possible. »
Broke by the pandemic
LeGuerrier is not at the top of his form when he answers our call. “I have COVID-19, it could get better!” », he apologizes.
COVID-19 hurt him in more ways than one. On the ice, the pandemic essentially sealed his fate for the Canadian. After his draft, he played the 2019-2020 season in Sault-Sainte-Marie, a season which was never finished. The following campaign was simply canceled in the Ontario Junior League.
LeGuerrier was limited to four short games with Laval and therefore could not do himself justice. The CH let him go without offering him a contract.
PHOTO BERNARD BRAULT, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Jacob LeGuerrier during a Canadiens rookie game, September 2019
In 2021-2022, he returned to Rockford, in the American League, but mainly played for Indianapolis, in the ECHL. That’s where it happened.
“I was sick, but I had the symptoms of a slight cold,” he explains. My COVID-19 test was negative. I went back to play, but I had chest pain, arrhythmia, things I had never experienced. So after two weeks, I informed the trainers. They tested me and I saw a cardiologist two days later.
“They discovered heart failure in the left ventricle. It sounds worse than it is, but basically my heart wasn’t pumping enough blood for my body. We did tests to see if it was congenital, but everything pointed to long COVID. The doctor thinks my COVID test was a false negative. I’ve been six months without exercise. Then it was better, but I couldn’t start playing again. »
LeGuerrier still hopes to resume his career, but his body refuses at the moment.
I started skating again two months ago, but not to a professional level. Doctors aren’t sure about the medications I’m taking and the long-term effects of playing hockey. I prefer to be careful. It’s not an arm or a leg!
Jacob LeGuerrier
If he ever receives the green light, he would take his first skates with the University of Ottawa team, before evaluating his options in the pros.
“They told me I can expect a complete recovery. But they also said it would take 6 months, and we’re down to 15. It varies from person to person, but I still have hope. »
He is not the first hockey player slowed down by this inflammation. In the NHL, forward Josh Archibald and goaltender Alex Stalock had to miss several months due to myocarditis.
The other passion?
Fashion is LeGuerrier’s other passion. It was therefore natural for him that his first business project was in this field. “When I was playing, I always had fun with my friends buying different clothes, different styles. It was my passion outside of hockey. »
PHOTO PROVIDED BY JACOB LEGUERRIER
Jacob LeGuerrier, wearing a sweater from his collection
The company is of modest size. The clothes from his first order are piled up at his parents’ house. “It’s me, my brother, and a few friends who help me with the photos. My brother works more on the site, he does programming. »
He still kept his job as an emergency room clerk at the Civic campus of the Ottawa Hospital, in what became another passion, hence his studies in health. “What I experienced made me want to learn more about the human body, the heart. I wish it would lead me to a job where I could still be part of a team. »
Certainly exciting projects, but the fact remains that Jacob LeGuerrier would have preferred to jump on the ice this week, in one of the 32 training camps across the four corners of the NHL. He keeps his spirits up despite everything.
“It’s quite difficult, but it’s beyond my control. I can not do anything. I can just try things on, like the clothing collection. You never know, maybe it will open the door to the search for the heart. And if another athlete experiences the same thing, they may have more resources. »