(Trois-Rivières) Impossible to miss Pier-Olivier Lestage on a football pitch. Despite the bad weather, he smiles. He decided to live his dream like this.
The big guy has carved out a special place for himself in the Montreal Alouettes’ offensive squad. Expectations about him are considerable and he intends to continue to meet them, in his own way.
It was raining heavily on Tuesday morning at the Diablos stadium at Cégep de Trois-Rivières, where the Alouettes are holding their training camp.
Still, the team in residence trained for more than four hours. The drops were heavy and cold. The ball, slippery and unpredictable.
On the sidelines, the players waiting and excluded from rehearsals did their best to stay active and ignore this temperature, quite in contrast to that of the first two days of camp.
To the sound of rap music spitting from the stadium speakers, one player stands out among the behemoths of the offensive line.
On a popular success of Juice Wrld, Pier-Olivier Lestage dances. And in doing so, he looks his teammates directly in the eye, as if to provoke them. In reality, he wants to share his joy.
Even though the majority of players are looking forward to the whistle signaling the end of training, the 25-year-old is enjoying himself. After all, he plays football. And he wants it to go on and on.
“Thank you for reminding me, it’s important,” he says once dry, even if his equipment is completely soaked. When I started playing football, it was my dream to play for the Alouettes one day. It is special. I was 10 years old and I came to see the matches with my father. »
Luc Brodeur-Jourdain used four words to describe the player from Saint-Eustache: “smiling, accessible, pleasant and showman “.
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, PRESS ARCHIVES
Luc Brodeur-Jourdain
Lestage’s athletic qualities are beyond doubt. In 2021, he had even convinced the Seattle Seahawks, in the NFL, to grant him a contract.
Today with the Alouettes, even though he is only entering his second season with the team, his importance in the locker room is immense, thanks in particular to his attitude.
“He’s a guy who has fun above all else,” continues Brodeur-Jourdain, offensive line coach. Over time, it becomes a form of leadership. It encourages players. He shows that it’s possible to have fun, even if everyone is stressed in a camp like that. »
More stability
Beyond his obvious passion for football, much of Lestage’s enjoyment as the new season approaches is attributable to the newfound stability within the team and organization.
He says he feels comfortable. “We have a new coach, a new playbook, a new president. There’s a lot of new things happening,” he says as his beard drips onto the floor of the hallway leading to the team’s improvised locker room in the cegep gymnasium.
Players seem more relaxed, he noted.
I really like the vibe this year.
Pier-Olivier Lestage
This stability reassures everyone in the locker room, him first. Now everyone can focus on how to win matches. “As a player, that’s what you’re looking for. You want it to be well organized, ”he retorts.
Answer to the expectations
On a personal level, Lestage wants to be part of the equation. Cody Fajardo is now the team’s quarterback, Jason Maas the new head coach and running back William Stanback is back in top form. No one hides it at the Alouettes; the ground game will be crucial during the coming season.
Even if he will have to adapt to this new identity, “football is still football,” recalls the offensive lineman. “I’m experienced enough to understand what’s going on and adapt to change. It’s just the name, the little words, the options. »
The former glory of the University of Montreal Carabins played 11 games in a tricolor uniform last season. In training on Tuesday, he took part in the main rehearsals. He quickly became a key part of the offensive wall.
PHOTO BERNARD BRAULT, PRESS ARCHIVES
Pier-Olivier Lestage (center) with the University of Montreal Carabins in September 2017
The qualities of the Quebecer are in no doubt for Brodeur-Jourdain. “For his size, his ability to move is terrific, but his overriding factor is his aggressiveness,” he explains of the 6’3″, 310 lb youngster.
The 10e 2021 total auction pick is a good technician, he adds, but “he does it with an initial blast first. He wants to hit the player, punch, create movement.
He may not be fully recognized in the public eye yet, given his position on the pitch, in particular, but Lestage has a lot to offer the team for which he has dreamed of making a career.
However, he refuses to worry more than necessary: “I approach it like any other season. I will do the best that I can. »
After all, “it’s our job, but we have fun”.