BUFFALO | In another era, Denis Gauthier shared the same dressing room as Daniel Brière with the Voltigeurs de Drummondville. Gauthier was a defender who hit like a move and Brière was picking up points at a breakneck pace.
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A few years later, Brière met another Gauthier. But in a different context. In his role as general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers, he interviewed Ethan Gauthier, his former teammate’s son.
“I thought it was funny because I watched him grow up,” Brière said in an interview with the Journal in a fancy Buffalo hotel lobby where pre-NHL draft evaluation camp (combines) is held. Ethan was just a little boy when I played with his father in Philadelphia.
Chance did everything well. Ethan conducted his first interview at the Flyers table.
“It was really professional in the beginning,” he said. I walked into the room and shook hands with everyone. I greeted Daniel and saw that he had a small smile. But he remained serious. When I finished thanking everyone, he looked at me and pulled out the nickname he used for me when I was little. I don’t think we can write the nickname in Le Journal but I thought it was very funny. He said to me, “Hello Streaker (Exhibitionist)!”
“It was just a little joke, but I liked it. I met Daniel when I was young. I was just a kid. My dad also played for the Flyers. So I was very pleased to open my interviews with Philadelphia. I knew before the draft that I would talk to the Flyers first. Sean Couturier had told me about it during a workout at the gym. He came back from Philadelphia and had learned that I was the first name on the interview list.
Brière had a big smile when we told him the anecdote about this nickname.
“When I talk about the Flitzer (exhibitionist), my kids know exactly who I’m talking about,” he recalled. They don’t know that Ethan will be drafted in the first round of the NHL, but they do know that he’s Denis’ little one who ran around the yard naked when they were playing with the Gauthiers!
Several interviews
There are no records of most pre-draft interviews. But Ethan Gauthier, the 16th most beautiful contestant in North America, has already had a good tour.
Photo courtesy of Sherbrooke Phoenix
“I’ve already met 12 teams in two days and I have to see 28 of them,” said Gauthier. I think there is only one prospect who has to interview more than me.”
After the Flyers, Gauthier spoke to the leaders of the Montreal Canadiens. Historically, CH have always had a reputation as a team that asks the hopefuls difficult and sometimes strange questions.
“Yeah, they’re destabilizing,” admitted the Sherbrooke Phoenix winger. They asked the classic question of what animal can I compare myself to. Then they told me I was a bastard player and kicked brutally. They told me they saw me play. But they wanted to see my reactions. At that time I remained a little frozen. I did well.”
For the animal, Gauthier chose a Ratel, better known as the Honey Badger.
“It is an animal that is not afraid of anything, it attacks much larger species, even if they are very small,” he explained. I drew a parallel to myself. There are teams who might think that because of my size I won’t be able to play the same strong game in the pros. But I was never afraid of anything.”
Goal: first round
Ethan would love to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a first-round pick as well. CH, who hold the pick of the Florida Panthers (31st or 32nd), could become a possible target.
“I’d like to go out before the end of the first round and the Canadian’s second pick,” he replied. I want to know my fate as soon as possible. However, I would be very happy to land in Montreal. Since coming back to Quebec, I’ve grown up watching the Canadian.
In 1995, Denis Gauthier was a first-round pick (20th) by the Calgary Flames. A year later, the Phoenix Coyotes also bet on Brière (24th) in the first round.
“Ethan has a really good chance of finding out his fate in the first round,” predicted Brière. We like him a lot as a young striker.”
Big brother influence
Hockey remains a family affair for the Gauthiers. Ethan and his older brother Kaylen have played for Sherbrooke Phoenix for the past two seasons.
Photo courtesy of Sherbrooke Phoenix, Vincent L-Rousseau
Ethan, a 5’11, 75kg winger, has 69 points (30 goals, 39 assists) in 66 games this season at Sherbrooke. His eyes shine even more when he describes the connection to his big brother.
“It’s mostly thanks to my brother that I’m here today,” he said. He had a say in my development and my career. If I’m fished out, he can also call himself fulfilled. I can’t wait to hug him as soon as I hear my name in Nashville. »
“My brother was the biggest influence on my career,” he continued. Kaylen had brought me back to earth just before my freshman year at Bantam Level. I always had it easy when I was young. I could only rely on my talent. I realized that it wasn’t just the talent and I didn’t always have the best discipline. My brother was the opposite of me. He worked hard to find his way. We thought he wouldn’t play in the QMJHL and he ended up captaining the Sherbrooke Phoenix. »