BUFFALO | In one other period, Denis Gauthier shared the identical dressing room as Daniel Brière with the Voltigeurs de Drummondville. Gauthier was a defender who hit like a transfer and Brière was choosing up factors at a breakneck tempo.
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A couple of years later, Brière met one other Gauthier. However in a unique context. In his position as basic supervisor of the Philadelphia Flyers, he interviewed Ethan Gauthier, his former teammate’s son.
“I believed it was humorous as a result of I watched him develop up,” Brière stated in an interview with the Journal in a elaborate Buffalo resort foyer the place pre-NHL draft analysis camp (combines) is held. Ethan was just a bit boy once I performed together with his father in Philadelphia.
Probability did the whole lot properly. Ethan performed his first interview on the Flyers desk.
“It was actually skilled to start with,” he stated. I walked into the room and shook palms with everybody. I greeted Daniel and noticed that he had a small smile. However he remained severe. Once I completed thanking everybody, he checked out me and pulled out the nickname he used for me once I was little. I don’t assume we are able to write the nickname in Le Journal however I believed it was very humorous. He stated to me, “Howdy Streaker (Exhibitionist)!”
“It was just a bit joke, however I preferred it. I met Daniel once I was younger. I used to be only a child. My dad additionally performed for the Flyers. So I used to be very happy to open my interviews with Philadelphia. I knew earlier than the draft that I might speak to the Flyers first. Sean Couturier had instructed me about it throughout a exercise on the fitness center. He got here again from Philadelphia and had realized that I used to be the primary title on the interview record.
Brière had an enormous smile once we instructed him the anecdote about this nickname.
“Once I speak concerning the Flitzer (exhibitionist), my children know precisely who I’m speaking about,” he recalled. They don’t know that Ethan can be drafted within the first spherical of the NHL, however they do know that he’s Denis’ toddler who ran across the yard bare once they had been taking part in with the Gauthiers!
A number of interviews
There are not any data of most pre-draft interviews. However Ethan Gauthier, the sixteenth most stunning contestant in North America, has already had tour.
Photograph courtesy of Sherbrooke Phoenix
“I’ve already met 12 groups in two days and I’ve to see 28 of them,” stated Gauthier. I believe there is just one prospect who has to interview greater than me.”
After the Flyers, Gauthier spoke to the leaders of the Montreal Canadiens. Traditionally, CH have at all times had a status as a workforce that asks the hopefuls tough and generally unusual questions.
“Yeah, they’re destabilizing,” admitted the Sherbrooke Phoenix winger. They requested the basic query of what animal can I evaluate myself to. Then they instructed me I used to be a bastard participant and kicked brutally. They instructed me they noticed me play. However they wished to see my reactions. At the moment I remained slightly frozen. I did properly.”
For the animal, Gauthier selected a Ratel, higher often called the Honey Badger.
“It’s an animal that’s not afraid of something, it assaults a lot bigger species, even when they’re very small,” he defined. I drew a parallel to myself. There are groups who may assume that due to my measurement I received’t have the ability to play the identical sturdy recreation within the execs. However I used to be by no means afraid of something.”
Aim: first spherical
Ethan would like to observe in his father’s footsteps and develop into a first-round choose as properly. CH, who maintain the choose of the Florida Panthers (thirty first or thirty second), might develop into a attainable goal.
“I’d prefer to exit earlier than the top of the primary spherical and the Canadian’s second choose,” he replied. I wish to know my destiny as quickly as attainable. Nonetheless, I might be very blissful to land in Montreal. Since coming again to Quebec, I’ve grown up watching the Canadian.
In 1995, Denis Gauthier was a first-round choose (twentieth) by the Calgary Flames. A 12 months later, the Phoenix Coyotes additionally guess on Brière (twenty fourth) within the first spherical.
“Ethan has a extremely good probability of discovering out his destiny within the first spherical,” predicted Brière. We like him quite a bit as a younger striker.”
Large brother affect
Hockey stays a household affair for the Gauthiers. Ethan and his older brother Kaylen have performed for Sherbrooke Phoenix for the previous two seasons.
Photograph courtesy of Sherbrooke Phoenix, Vincent L-Rousseau
Ethan, a 5’11, 75kg winger, has 69 factors (30 targets, 39 assists) in 66 video games this season at Sherbrooke. His eyes shine much more when he describes the connection to his large brother.
“It’s largely because of my brother that I’m right here at the moment,” he stated. He had a say in my improvement and my profession. If I’m fished out, he also can name himself fulfilled. I can’t wait to hug him as quickly as I hear my title in Nashville. »
“My brother was the most important affect on my profession,” he continued. Kaylen had introduced me again to earth simply earlier than my freshman 12 months at Bantam Degree. I at all times had it simple once I was younger. I might solely depend on my expertise. I spotted that it wasn’t simply the expertise and I didn’t at all times have the perfect self-discipline. My brother was the other of me. He labored laborious to seek out his method. We thought he wouldn’t play within the QMJHL and he ended up captaining the Sherbrooke Phoenix. »