(Laval) Logan Mailloux is of course happy to have been selected to represent the Laval Rocket at the American Hockey League All-Star Classic, February 4 and 5 in San José, California. The way he was informed of the news probably affected him even more.
The moment, captured on video and posted on the Rocket’s X account (formerly Twitter), was beautiful to see.
At the end of the team’s training session Tuesday on the ice at Place Bell, Jean-François Houle invited the players to gather around him and his coaching staff. That’s when Houle said, in English, a very simple sentence, pointing at him: “Logan, you’re going to the all-star game!” »
The reactions were quick. Houle’s assistants and certain players banged their sticks on the ice and shouted with joy. The Ontario defender’s teammates then surrounded him and warmly congratulated him, passing their hands over his helmet in turn.
“It was incredible,” Mailloux admitted in the locker room after Wednesday’s game against the Utica Comets.
“I have to thank all the guys here who helped me get this far. Especially Arber (Xhekaj). We play together and he has helped me with my game and he has helped me grow in recent weeks,” added Mailloux, for whom this will be a very first visit to California.
In the video, we can among other things notice how much the Rocket head coach seemed to enjoy the moment.
“We have a great team spirit,” Houle first noted.
“At the start of the year, it wasn’t easy. We went through a lot together as a team and it’s fun when a player deserves something. It was fun announcing it to the players and everyone was happy for him. »
Mailloux, who is originally from Belle River, Ontario, was selected in his first professional season.
Heading into Wednesday’s game, the 20-year-old was third in team scoring and tops among defensemen with six goals and 14 assists.
“His game is moving in the right direction. I think he had his ups and downs, maybe he didn’t start the way he wanted, but he bounced back. He plays well offensively, he plays better defensively. He’s going in the right direction,” says Houle.
Mailloux feels, for his part, that he has improved his defensive performance.
“With the exception of tonight (Wednesday) because I wasn’t good, I think defensively I’m making better plays and it’s harder to play against me. And I try to create plays in the offensive zone,” said Mailloux, who was selected in the first round, 31e in total, by the Montreal Canadiens during the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Each of the four sections of the American League will be represented by 12 players. The rosters were determined by circuit coaching committees, and all 32 league teams are represented by at least one player.
Mailloux expects to experience great moments during these two days in northern California.
“I’ve never done anything like this before. There are going to be a lot of good hockey players there. It should be a great experience. »