Zachary Bolduc was born in Bécancour and spent the summer in Quebec. Not out of nostalgia after his junior career ended by winning the Gilles-Courteau Trophy and Memorial Cup, but rather because the former Quebec Remparts is now tackling his next goal: playing in the national hockey league starting this season.
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The St. Louis Blues first-round pick trained with fitness coaches Gabriel Hardy and David Rodrigue, as well as NHL players including Yanni Gourde, Mathieu Olivier and Jakob Pelletier.
He has been skating with the Remparts de Québec for a few weeks to keep himself in shape. And a sign that his junior training is finally over is that he is active in the blues, yellows and whites of the Blues with his former junior team.
Stevens LeBlanc/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
Because his goal is clear: He wants to force the Blues organization to take action after they had a disappointing camp a year ago.
“I completely erased that [le camp de l’an dernier] from my memory. There is no point in living in the past and I am now looking forward. It’s a big challenge that I’m facing and I know I’m capable of it. I have to assert myself and not fall on my heels and rush forward to try to take a place. »
A big challenge
However, Bolduc doesn’t bury his head in the sand. It only takes a little internet research to see that the Blues are already counting on a near-complete lineup in attack.
“There’s no hole, so it’s up to me to make one,” he says confidently. I will arrive at camp with this mentality. I want to try to take someone’s job away. I believe in my chances and will be ready. If not right at the start of the season, I plan to work all year long to secure a spot in the NHL. »
Thanks to Roy and Beausoleil
Even though his junior career is officially over, Zachary Bolduc still has great memories. Can we blame him for the fact that in addition to winning the Gilles-Courteau Trophy and the Memorial Cup, you also scored 50 goals twice?
But beyond the individual and collective honors, he assures that the care he benefited from his two coaches, Serge Beausoleil when he started at the Rimouski Océanic and then Patrick Roy during his last two seasons, was a great asset in his Pursuit of a career will be place in the best league in the world.
“In Rimouski I was young and naive. I played hockey for fun. Even though he was sometimes harsh, Serge was always there for me. With Patrick we really got into the details and what I wanted and needed to improve to play in the NHL.
“I couldn’t have wished for better development. Without these two coaches I wouldn’t be the player I am today. I will always be grateful to them and when I play my first game in the NHL I will think of them. »
Stevens LeBlanc/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
Additionally, Bolduc was invited by the NHL to attend a gathering of some of the NHL’s top talent on September 5, organized by the hockey card company Upper Deck. He will be one of three Quebecers in attendance, along with Xavier Bourgault (Edmonton) and William Dufour (Islanders). Note that Connor Bedard as well as Canadian hopefuls Owen Beck, Filip Mesar and Sean Farrell will also be in attendance.