The parents of the family that took in Samuel Montembeault don't remember seeing their former protégé get angry.
“The calm that it radiates is true,” praises Manon Doucet. He's a guy who's on fire, who was sometimes a little last minute, who could run around the house, but he didn't get angry.”
And neither Ms. Doucet nor her partner Marc Bergeron were surprised when, while attending a Canadiens game, they heard Martin St-Louis tell the goaltender's parents that he was not only “an excellent hockey player, but also an excellent human being.”
Samuel Montembeault in front of the ice at the Bell Center, with Manon Doucet and Marc Bergeron. Photo provided by Manon Doucet
Because, in addition to his calmness, which we can call legendary, they had seen it in Montembeault during the three years that he spent with them while wearing the uniform of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.
“Sometimes when he had a bad game, you could tell he wasn't happy, but we didn't put up with that,” she continues. And it didn't last long. His joy of life quickly returned.”
When Samuel Montembeault arrived at their home, he was “stupid,” she remembers. He weighed 170 pounds and stood 6 feet 3 inches tall.
That's why it was necessary to “fatten him up” so that he would build muscle mass, she says with a laugh.
Samuel Montembeault with Manon Doucet (to his left), Marc Bergeron (far right) and the children of the boarding school family. Photo provided by Manon Doucet
The asparagus anecdote
The problem was that the young goalkeeper had a reputation for being difficult when it came to food.
“I see him come back with the sheet made by his nutritionist,” she explains. We worked hard together, but he gave in.”
“The only thing is he doesn't like eggs, so we had to find other proteins in the morning. “But he did it without complaining.”
Samuel Montembeault in front of his locker in the Canadiens locker room, with Manon Doucet and Marc Bergeron. Photo provided by Manon Doucet
That's because Montembeault has great trust in others, both Ms. Doucet and Mr. Bergeron believe.
So much so that the mother of the boarding family even managed to get her protégé to eat… asparagus, a vegetable that is certainly not at the top of many teenagers' favorite list.
“He looked at me and said, 'Manon, what are we eating? Am I going to like this?'” she recalls.
“Oh yes, you'll like this, it's asparagus, it's really good!” She replied.
“It has become his favorite vegetable,” adds Marc Bergeron.
“The team before the ego”
The anecdote may seem anecdotal, but for the couple it illustrates why the Quebecer has now been linked to the Canadian for several years, even if his early career in the NHL was a winding road.
Samuel Montembeault with Manon Doucet and Marc Bergeron in Riga, Latvia, during the Ice Hockey World Championship, spring 2023. Photo provided by Manon Doucet
“He is open, he listens,” emphasizes Ms. Doucet. I tell myself that this is how it has to be, with his coach. He must believe in what he is told and stick to it.
“That's why I have the impression that the story of the three goalkeepers doesn't bother him,” adds Marc Bergeron. He is the team before the ego. If the team needs it, the coach needs it, the general manager needs it, then he will comply.
Samuel Montembeault was also a young person who liked to join a group, he remembers. During dinner he chatted with the whole clan at the table, a principle that was very important to his boarding family.
Not Guy Lafleur, but…
And even though he left their nest seven years ago, the Doucet-Bergerons find that the guardian hasn't changed at all.
They remained close as they became friends with the entire Montembeault family, who like them came from the Bécancour region near Trois-Rivières.
Last spring, they even saw the goaltender shine in the Team Canada colors at the World Championships in Riga, Latvia.
“I feel tired when I watch his games [à force de le soutenir] ! says Mrs. Doucet, laughing. I already told him I hoped it would take some of the fatigue off of him.”
“He amazes me,” his partner adds. When we do activities with him, we see that he has the ability to get to know people.”
“I wouldn’t say he’s Guy Lafleur, but he has the ability to make people feel like he’s giving them time.”