The Habs' decision to cut Guillaume Latendresse has been discussed over and over again. The 18-year-old phenomenon got himself three goals and two assists during four preseason games. Still, the Habs showed him the door. Latendresse is, however, ready to lead the way for the next QJMHL season.
Habs GM Bob Gainey had nothing but good things to say about the Drummondville Voltigeurs' winger. The 6-2, 225 lb. rookie "did a fine job, but he needs to mature a little bit. Needless to say, we appreciated all his efforts and his presence on the ice." Right after this annoucement, Guillaume did not have the time to be desperate.
"I am fine," he said, in an interview the day after he was cut. "I finished all my interviews before getting back to Drummondville (a one-hour drive from Montreal). It's crazy how I got so famous and, boy, so fast. Even Quebec's most popular tabloids, 7 Days and Echo-Star, asked for interviews!"
"Of course I am sad to leave. But I lived my dream till the end. I know what it means to have money, travel by plane, and live a prestigious lifestyle." Surprisingly, professional hockey players are quite simple and easy to approach, especially his buddies from Quebec. "Those players were awesome. They paid my bills at restaurants. I had nothing to worry about."
Latendresse is considered a good, but slow skater. During training camp, his sudden speed amazed the coaching staff and the media. "Guys wanted to call me the Rocket (Maurice Richard's nickname). I worked so hard in the gym during the summer. I did power skating 2-3 times a week."
Now that he has left Montreal, the Bell Centre fans won't roar his name like they used to do during the preseason games. The Habs' decision made Drummondville fans cheer, but the Habs fans were quite deceived. "I just don't get it," commented a fan who has his season tickets at the Bell Centre. "We waited so long for such a player. Now that one is hot, they waited until the last day to cut him off. And now, the enthusiasm is gone. But we'll still attend, and I hope the Habs will continue on their good streak." (Seven wins and two losses for the Habs, including preseason games as of October 7, 2005).
Latendresse will now impress a sold-out Marcel-Dionne Centre in Drummondville, where only a few tickets on 20 games are still available. The demand for season tickets exploded as soon as the news came out. His junior-major team, the Drummodnville Voltigeurs, did also well with six victories and two losses while Guillaume was skating on the professional ice.
"We trust our team presently and it will be good for Guillaume to get on the boat, stated Drummodnville coach Dominik Ricard. However, players must not reduce their power because Guillaume is back. We'll take it one day at a time. It will be important for Guillaume to have short-term objectives. He knows, but must not forget that the working conditions are not the same, and that he must enjoy his comeback."
This type of experience can quickly put a player on the map. The media (especially in Montreal) is known for its way of qualifying rookie players as soon as they hit the ice. Therefore, Latendresse impressed and got himself the status of a hockey icon. But according to some analysts, maybe the pressure of being in the NHL could have created the opposite effect after a few games. For instance, all eyes are now on Sidney Crosby as he skates with legends and older stagers such as Mario Lemieux, John LeClair, and Mark Recchi. Will he handle the pressure and expectations?
"Rookies need to have experience, but also need to comprehend that training camps are a wild dream, but also it is a step in the right direction," stated a hockey source. "Going back in their junior-major teams simply put their feet back on the ground. Some keep the beat going and produce all they can with their old team. Some others get desperate and cannot cope with the sudden change of conditions. The pressure is always there and NHL means work, sweat, bleed, and hurt all you can. That explains why only an average 1% of all minor hockey Canadian players make it to the NHL."
Habs fans will indeed watch Latendresse play his rounds one hour away from their hometown. Rumors even stated that Habs fans were looking for tickets in Drummondville! No doubt that Latendresse defended himself well and that the status of professional hockey player will stay with him. According to a French singer, men are often sad because they do not make their dream come true.
With a Habs jersey not very far and a junior-major sold-out Centre behind him, Latendresse is surely one of the happiest men alive.
The Bell Centre was one of Latendresse's wildest dreams and he finally made it.
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