The Drummondville Voltigeurs are growing up, so it's no surprise that they are one of the best teams in the QMJHL. And yet it's still a nice surprise.
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The Center du Québec team takes first place in the Western Association and fourth place overall after a rather difficult 2022-2023 season.
In November 2022, the team experienced a coaching change when Steve Hartley was replaced by Éric Bélanger. At the end of the season, Philippe Boucher gave up his position as general manager and Yanick Lemay succeeded him. This was followed by the departure of Bélanger, who was replaced by Sylvain Favreau in July.
It was the arrival of Lemay, who had just spent 12 years as a scout with the Winnipeg Jets, and Favreau, who had just spent six years with the Halifax Mooseheads, including the last two years as head coach, that seemed to have changed everything.
“The organizational changes that have taken place over the last few months have been very beneficial to us,” confirms Luke Woodworth, a four-year veteran.
Luke Woodworth believes the changes have been beneficial for the Voltigeurs. Courtesy of Drummondville Voltigeurs
Fragile team
“I found a fragile team and that’s normal. They are between 16 and 20 years old, they went through two coaching changes before me and there were two general managers, so there was a kind of indeterminacy,” Favreau explained during a long and very interesting interview with Marcel Dionne Center.
“I had to bring stability back without reinventing the wheel,” explains the French-Ontarian. We focused on our work habits and clearly defined what that means.”
That's why he worked to create a solid foundation so that his young charges would feel secure and have a ground under their feet that wouldn't slip.
“It starts with work habits. We often hear coaches say that you have to play right, but what does that mean? I asked the question to young people in Halifax and here in Drummond and no one could really tell me what it was.
“My job was to define that clearly. We have implemented twelve work habits, which we call winning habits, and a game system is added to them.”
Human approach
What stands out when talking to Sylvain Favreau is his approach, which has something very instructive about it, which goalkeeper Riley Mercer also confirms.
“Sometimes we have the impression that he is a teacher (…), confirms the Newfoundlander. You learn a lot by watching him, how he behaves and just by looking at his body language.”
“Our job in 2023 is to be a leader, but it is also a kind of teacher, we teach every day and not just on the ice,” Favreau explains his style.
“There is the human side of coaching, it’s not just about X’s and O’s or strategies. You have to get to know your players.
“In 2023, getting the best out of one or the other is completely different, we have to approach it individually; a training model for the world, it no longer works. You have to understand what drives each player. If you are able to create a development plan for 23 players, each of them improving, then your team improves.
Riley Mercer Courtesy of Voltigeurs de Drummondville
simplicity
Riley Mercer also praises the open-mindedness of his trainer, whose door is always open.
“With Sylvain there are no gray areas, it is black or white. He is a very good communicator who manages to convey his message clearly to everyone.”
The players also like the approach on the ice, as the team's game has been simplified and work habits improved.
“People tend to overcomplicate a game that isn't complicated when you focus on its basic aspects,” summarizes Mercer. The twelve habits that he implemented at the beginning of the season are simple and effective ideas that allow us to play well and give them a fun touch.
“We’re still young players, but we have to approach it like it’s a job because we want it to become our job.”