Around 80 family members and friends of Marc-André Fleury were present at the game between the Canadians and the Wild on Tuesday evening.
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If this was ever the Sorel goalkeeper’s last hurrah in his country, he will have fulfilled his family by being generous with his tickets.
“He’s the only Wild player that’s been applauded, so it’s fun, but there’s also a certain sadness, a nostalgia, because we’re saying to ourselves that this might be his last game that we’re going to go to after Montreal,” said her cousin Lyne Simoneau.
“It’s something, it happened too quickly, it doesn’t make sense. We are not saying it is over, Marc-André is able to get back on his feet,” added his godmother Manon Cardin.
We’ll see in the end
At 38 years old, 39 next month, Fleury is the oldest goaltender in the NHL. He doesn’t know yet whether he’ll be back next season, and those close to him aren’t giving it much thought.
“I come quite often every year, but we prefer not to take any risks. “What he says in the media is true, he hasn’t made his decision yet,” said his cousin Nicolas, who admitted it was likely to get more emotional in the third period.
And he must have been when the crowd shouted “Fleury!” Fleury!” after a spectacular save in the third period.
Stéphane Ménard is a goalkeeping coach who Fleury has worked with since he was seven, and he believes his protégé still has what it takes.
“It’s certain it’s coming to an end, but he’s still a school kid. I think he would like to stop trying to win a Stanley Cup.
family Guy
When we talk to some members of his family, we quickly sense that the clan is close-knit and that Fleury doesn’t deviate from tradition. He also had to meet everyone after the game.
“The Cardin family is close-knit, there are many of us today. “For him, it’s all about family and he has preserved these values,” confirms his cousin Nicolas, whose daughter Béatrice is Marc-André’s goddaughter.
Nicolas’ father Guy adds a new layer by telling a new anecdote.
“The day before yesterday we were at a family gathering and he came over to celebrate with everyone.”
And his wife Manon tells her own story about the very close family.
“At the draft there were about fifteen of us from the family who attended the draft in Nashville.”
A dream
Marc-André Fleury is playing his 20th season in the NHL. We’re talking about a long and successful career marked by three Stanley Cup victories and an Olympic gold medal.
And it all started with a childhood dream that made the family smile, as her aunt Manon, the mother of her cousin Nicolas, said.
“When the boys were young, they had their hockey card collection and when he looked at his favorite goalie, Marc-André said he would play in the National League. We laughed and let them dream.”
For his part, Nicolas wore the colors of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar and the Victoriaville Tigres.
Stéphane Ménard Dave Lévesque
Some pleasure
Marc-André Fleury is known for his eternal smile and perhaps we can thank his coach Stéphane Ménard for that.
“I always told him to be humble, play as much as possible and never give up, and we see that he will go. But the most important thing is to have fun, and that’s a problem in Quebec right now: we have robots, we have to have fun.”
And what is the secret of its longevity?
“For several years we have been changing his style from year to year and he adapts. Even tonight I see him walking and I have the impression that he is 20 years old.
“He takes care of himself and it helps him not to play stressed. It’s like that in all professions.”