“If you hit a home run in New York, it's a grand slam.” The general manager of the Big Apple team in the new Professional Women's Hockey League uses this image to describe the magic of the city.
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“It is a big beast to tame,” confirmed Pascal Daoust on Wednesday during a video conference, on the eve of a very special activity in the heart of the megalopolis.
The unveiling of the captain, Micah Zandee-Hart, Canada's Beijing Olympic gold medalist, took place Thursday at the famous Rockefeller Center ice rink in front of the giant lighted tree we so often see in Christmas movies.
Michel Bergeron often repeats: “Everything is bigger in New York.” Daoust and the other Quebecers in the organization are fully aware of this.
“A lot of people stopped to watch and film us,” team services manager Katia Clément-Heydra told the Journal.
Micah Zandee-Hart was named captain of the New York team on Thursday in front of the rink and famous tree at Rockefeller Center. Her alternates will be Alex Carpenter and Ella Shelton. Photo from X account @PWHL_NewYork
Two houses
Daoust realizes that it will be a big challenge to make yourself known in this jungle where there are a thousand things to do. This inaugural season, the New York club will play its home games in two arenas: Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Elmont, New York, home of the NHL Islanders. More than an hour's drive separates the two amphitheaters.
“It's grist for the mill, these are things that make it easier for our members to join and make us visible and known,” said the former GM of the Foreurs de Val-d'Or in the QMJHL. There's even the Empire State Building, which will be resplendent in our colors. It’s no small thing when something happens in New York.”
Pascal Daoust, general manager of the New York team, during a video conference, Wednesday, December 20, 2023. Zoom screenshot
Four French-speaking players
Daoust and Clément-Heydra are not the only Quebecers on the New York team. There's Christophe Perreault, the director of recruiting and advanced statistics, but it's mainly three players.
Élizabeth Giguère, Jade Downie-Landry and Alexandra Labelle, all of the draft, experienced euphoria in downtown Manhattan on Thursday.
It remains to be seen whether the three forwards will form a trio like Gilbert Perreault, Richard Martin and René Robert did with the Buffalo Sabers in upstate New York in the 1970s.
The female “French connection” could even be expanded to include the Frenchwoman Chloé Aurard.
“The three women from Quebec are not here because Pascal Daoust is here. They are here because they deserve to play in the best league in the world and because they deserve to be part of this team,” assured the manager.
Élizabeth Giguère training for the New York team in the Professional Women's Hockey League, Sunday, December 3, 2023. Photo provided by the LPHF
Two offensive machines
The latter states that the three met expectations in the training camp and convinced employees who did not know them.
Giguère, who wore the Canadian uniform during last year's Rivalry Series against the Americans, was selected by Daoust at No. 28, particularly for her “offense, her experience and her background in the NCAA,” but also for his “intelligence, his ability “To see the rink 360 degrees and distribute pucks everywhere.”
“When she chooses second and third gear, all her intelligence and execution come to the fore,” analyzed Daoust.
As for Downie-Landry, the Montreal Force's leading scorer last season in the defunct First Hockey Federation, and Labelle, Daoust knows them well. As an assistant coach with the Université de Montréal Carabins, he met the former, who played for the McGill Martlets, and coached the latter for five seasons.
“Jade, my God, she gave everyone behind the bench heart attacks because you knew she could change the game with one shot, one play. You should never underestimate her when she passes the puck, and you should never lose sight of her when she doesn't. “Got it,” the GM declared.
“We know [que Labelle] brings intelligence, responsibility and respect for the game over 200 feet, 85 wide, over 17,000 square feet. She's disciplined, she's a great teammate and she's capable of playing her offensive game.
With the American Alex Carpenter there should be a lot of goals in New York this season.
Quebec's Jade Downie-Landry of the New York team during a video conference on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Screenshot, PWHL (LPHF)
Almost a quartet
Defender Christine Deaudelin almost joined the Quebec trio, but despite a good camp, she was left out.
“On a bus we can’t all sit in the seat behind the driver, we have to take different seats,” Daoust imagined. Christine has a lot to offer in this league, the only dilemma is the number of chairs available.
“In the short or medium term there will certainly be opportunities for athletes who stay in shape and stay ready,” Daoust said.