The hiring of Corey Schueneman by the Laval Rocket on July 2, 2020, did not exactly cause panic in Montreal newsrooms.
But Jean-François Houle, who was then an assistant coach for the Edmonton Oilers school club in Bakersfield, had seen the news.
“I saw him play when he was at Stockton, in our division, and I loved him,” says the man who is now the head coach of the Rocket. I called Joël [Bouchard], I said to him: “You just picked up a good player! He’s on the upswing. ” ”
Houle had seen it right; Schueneman was indeed on the rise. His July 2020 contract was for the American League only. But last April, in the middle of a season beyond expectations, the Habs, on the recommendation of Scott Mellanby, offered him a National League contract in good standing.
And here it is that on December 28, Schueneman ended up playing a first match in the National League. Circumstances certainly helped: Jeff Petry, Ben Chiarot and Chris Wideman were absent due to COVID-19, Joel Edmundson has yet to play this season, Shea Weber’s career is in jeopardy, Chris Chelios is starting to get old for return to the game and Doug Harvey died in 1989.
However, reaching the NHL at 26 is an extremely rare feat.
Lift your head
“He’s not good defensively. “” He’s not a smart enough player. “On Twitter, the night of Schueneman’s first game, Ryan Ballard recalled these criticisms of which Schueneman was the subject, younger, by relaying a video of the Canadian.
Ballard, he’s Schueneman’s agent. He knew the young man during his years at the Bantam level, in his hometown of Detroit. So he’s seen him perfect his game over the years.
“He had to improve two things, explains Ballard on the phone. First, his defensive game. He was very offensive up to the junior ranks. So in college, they insisted on it. And he had to learn to look up when he controlled the puck. Because by playing with his head down, he could not achieve high speed games as he must do with professionals.
“He was lucky to be very well managed. But the player should not only be taught; he must also have the will to apply it. ”
Veteran coach Andy Murray, who coached him for four years at Western Michigan University, confirms. “In his first year, he was playing with his head down, and it affected his decision making. He went quickly to the puck, but it was his decision then that was lacking, ”said Murray, joined at his home in Minnesota.
Schueneman therefore worked hard. It didn’t make him a great offensive defenseman – he had 21 points in 37 games in his last season in the NCAA – but his efforts were certainly noticed. At least by his teammates.
Murray had his players fill out, at the start of each season, a questionnaire in which they had to identify their 4 best teammates in 12 categories. For example: the most respected, the best communicator, the hardest worker, etc.
“Corey finished 1er or 2e in all 12 categories, recalls Murray. So we appointed him captain. ”
On the other hand, the NHL teams didn’t notice it as much. He therefore had to settle for an American League contract with Stockton, when he left college, then another minor league contract, that of July 2, 2020 with Laval. “It’s not like a lot of teams are calling,” says Ryan Ballard. But the Canadiens’ scouts were good at identifying a player who could still improve. ”
Perseverance
With sober but effective play, with a smooth skating stroke, also with a combination of circumstances unimaginable just a few weeks ago, Schueneman was entitled to his chance.
In 3 games, he got an assist, was on the ice for just one of 14 goals allowed by CH (and it was shorthanded) and he got his first point in the circuit. His outfit has earned him, on several occasions, the praise of Marc Denis during the broadcast of the matches on RDS.
Obviously, when the injured and sick players return, it is very likely in Laval that he will continue his progress.
“He can continue to improve his skate and his pivots,” says Jean-François Houle. He is aware of his shortcomings and he is working on them. He must get the pucks faster at the back of the territory. And he has to keep his game simple. It’s when he tries to complicate things that he gets into trouble. As soon as he sees a pallet, he has to make the pass! ”
Nevertheless, his career arouses admiration. “His parents have much to be proud of,” believes Andy Murray. It hasn’t been easy. He played junior until he was 20, didn’t play a lot with us in his freshman year and ended up captain of one of the best teams in the country. He didn’t have an NHL contract right away, so he started with an American League contract and was fired in ECHL. ”
“It’s a great example for our young people in the American League,” adds Houle. It is an example of perseverance. It shows that you can develop late even if you are not drafted. ”
(Again) good words for Harvey-Pinard
Before hanging up with Jean-François Houle, we try a very simple question: of all the Rocket players who have been recalled, who are the ones who impressed you the most in the Canadiens’ three games last week? “Of course I have always liked Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, his way of competing, of positioning himself in front of the net,” replied Houle. He must continue to work on these details to stay in the National League full time. Lukas Vejdemo, I liked him a lot on the penalty kill. He had good angles, a good stick. We are proud of all the players who have come up. It is not easy for them with all the injured, but they gave an honest effort. Harvey-Pinard was also the first name mentioned by Jonathan Drouin, at a press briefing, and Stéphane Robidas, in our Monday pages, had him named second. The little number 49 stands out …