(Laval) For two weeks between March 28 and April 11, Luke Tuch experienced all the excitement and tension of the United States men’s university hockey championship, commonly known as the “Frozen Four”.
Friday, he could find himself on an ice rink in a fairly similar context, but in his very first professional match.
Barely half an hour after the Montreal Canadiens confirmed that they had signed him to a two-year contract on Tuesday morning, Tuch took to the ice at Place Bell and participated in the Rocket’s training session. Laval.
Tuch showed up in Laval as the team prepares for its last two games on the schedule, Friday and Saturday, against the Belleville Senators. Two matches which could propel the Laval team towards the next playoffs or, on the contrary, send them on a long and early vacation.
However, even if Jean-François Houle did not confirm anything on Tuesday, it is quite possible that Tuch will be in uniform in Belleville on Friday in a match that the Rocket absolutely must win to maintain any hope of playing next week.
First, Tuch made a good impression on the Rocket head coach. Then, forward Jacob Perreault, injured last Saturday in Cleveland, is out of action, and Brandon Gignac and Mitchell Stephens remain uncertain cases. Finally, with his stature of 6 ft 2 in and 209 lbs, Tuch brings an unusual element among Rocket forwards.
“I liked it. He’s a big guy, with a big build. He’s capable of being physical, he’s hard to tackle, he had a very good season at Boston University. That’s what we’re missing a little on our team, big guys like that. He did very well in training,” underlined Houle.
“He is a player who has just played high-level, very intense matches in the NCAA tournament,” added Houle. He’s in good shape, he looks ready. If we can use it to help our team, we’ll do it. »
Those who see Tuch at work for the first time will likely discover a hockey player drawn to the north-south axis on an ice rink.
“I have a good physique and I like to play like a power forward. I like to play tough, I like to rush hard towards the net and go in a straight line. I hope my style can complement those of other Rocket players,” said Tuch, who also signed a one-way contract with the Rocket, which will allow him to finish the current season in the American Hockey League.
The 20-year-old forward scored 10 goals in addition to 20 assists in 39 games this season with the Boston University Terriers in the NCAA.
Tuch has notably evolved this season with defender Lane Hutson, who recently signed a three-year entry contract with the Habs. Hutson also got an assist in his first career NHL game on Monday in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Red Wings in Detroit.
Tuch and Hutson reached the “Frozen Four” of the U.S. Men’s College Hockey Championship, where their team lost to the University of Denver in the semifinals. This setback allowed the Canadian to offer them their first professional contract.
The Syracuse, New York, hockey player was selected in the second round, 47e in total, by the Canadian during the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
Happy swell for Mailloux
Furthermore, the NHL opened the door to defenseman Logan Mailloux’s first career game with the Habs on Tuesday against the Red Wings.
“We have met with Logan Mailloux several times over the last eight or ten months. We believe that he is aware of the seriousness of the actions he took and that he wishes to improve and make more responsible decisions in the future. He got the green light to play in the National Hockey League,” we could read in a press release issued by the Bettman circuit.
Mailloux scored 14 goals and amassed 33 assists in 70 games with the Rocket this season, his first in the professional ranks.
The 21-year-old Ontarian, who represented the Rocket in the last American League All-Star Game, was selected by the Habs in the 31e rank in the 2021 NHL draft session, even though he was convicted of a sexual crime in 2020, in Sweden.
After the Rocket’s training session Tuesday at Place Bell, Jean-François Houle said he was happy with the Canadian’s decision to recall him.
“Yes, he deserves it. He had a very good season. I think he’s on an upward trajectory, he’s done very well throughout the year. It’s well deserved,” Houle first mentioned, while adding that he liked his composure and maturity this season.
“He has evolved as a player. From day 1 he got better. And that’s what you want when a young player comes up to the minor leagues. »