Jonathan Huberdeau, Kristopher Letang, Nick Suzuki, Anthony Beauvillier, Mathieu Joseph… As a garage league, we have already seen worse!
Posted at 9:40 p.m.
It’s this group of happy fellows that Zachary Fucale and his partners in Living Sisu, his app-based company that promotes an active lifestyle, brought together this summer for a summer hockey league in 3 against 3, mostly for professional players.
On this stormy Tuesday, the four teams were in action at Hockey Etcetera, a hockey complex located on Chemin de la Côte-de-Liesse, “the Champs-Élysées of the West”, as the locals say.
The atmosphere is obviously friendly, the game clean, especially when two old friends like Charles Hudon and Nicolas Deslauriers find themselves on the same rink. What would have been a check from Deslauriers, in a normal game, turned into light contact, followed by a semblance of a hug, between the two former CH players.
“In Montreal, there have always been games organized here and there, but after having had a few conversations, they lacked some resources to continue,” noted Fucale, goaltender today in the organization of the Washington Capitals.
“We wanted to continue and Hockey Etcetera gave us the opportunity to continue. And with Living Sisu, we wanted to get involved in events. I didn’t do this alone. Me, it was more about talking to boys. »
The guys play on Tuesdays. But there is also a women’s section, on Mondays, again with a high caliber. Fucale is proud of this aspect, which distinguishes his league from other organizations of its kind in other major NHL markets.
“We have the best players too, with Danièle Sauvageau who helps us get players on board. I’m not a recruiter! he says, laughing.
The profits generated by the league will be donated to the Canadian Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, assures Fucale.
Movement in front of the net!
Fucale’s contract with the Capitals is still valid for one year. In fact, Fucale is currently the only goalie in the organization with NHL experience!
Washington has just traded Vitek Vanecek to the Devils, and has not submitted a qualifying offer to Ilya Samsonov. The Capitals will therefore certainly be active in the goalie market.
It’s not a guaranteed promotion, however, for Fucale, who spent the majority of last season in the American League. “Their plan is probably to have me as a third goalkeeper, but they want me to push and that has always been my approach, explains the former choice of 2e Canadian tower. It won’t be anything new. Whether I am 1, 2, 3 or 4, the job remains the same. It’s important that I push my limits. »
We will all remember Fucale’s memorable NHL debut on November 11, when he posted a 2-0 shutout in his very first game.
“At the end of the season, they told me that they were happy with my arrival in the National League. It’s important to make a good first impression, and my first impression was no worse, I think! But I’m not saying that for fun. It is important. When you come home, you have to put your foot down. I think I did, even though my American League season wasn’t my best. »
It will certainly be interesting to take a look at what the Capitals do starting Wednesday, when the free agent market opens.
“Sometimes in hockey, things go fast. Tomorrow, with the independent players, things should stir. It often happens with goalies. Right now I’m looking at our depth chart, there are not many guards! »