A little over a year ago, Martin St-Louis had to leave the Canadiens’ entourage temporarily. The reason for this was not revealed at the time, but it was eventually revealed that it had something to do with his youngest son, Mason, who had suffered a serious injury while playing hockey.
His condition had deteriorated and he had to be hospitalized, so the coach left to join his family. And of course, everyone understood that.
And the good news is that Mason is now doing much better. He started playing hockey again this year, collecting 53 points in 33 games in the USHS-Prep, a development league.
But today, his name is back in the news because earlier today, at the QMJHL draft, he was drafted by the Sherbrooke Phoenix… and if Gilles Bouchard’s words are anything to go by, the club likes its chances of convincing him to come play in the QMJHL.
There have been positive discussions on the subject, at least.
It’s not unusual for players south of the border to be drafted into the QMJHL without ever setting foot there. Usually, teams in the Cecchini circuit use late-round draft picks to secure the rights of kids “just in case”, but this rarely works out.
In the case of young St-Louis, the Phoenix seem to like their chances. You’d think the fact that he’d be closer to his father would be a nail in the Phoenix’s coffin… as would the fact that Stéphane Robidas, his father’s assistant in Montreal, is one of the Phoenix’s co-owners.
Maybe that could tip the balance… even if it means he returns to the U.S. after a year or two in the QMJHL, as many young players are doing now.
What’s clear, though, is that the Phoenix would strike a blow if they could convince young Mason to come and play in Sherbrooke. We’re talking about an interesting young player, and Gilles Bouchard really seems to like him.
Let’s see if his father and/or Robidas will be enough arguments to attract him to Quebec, having spent his whole life in the United States.
– Interesting.
– A bizarre sequence in MLB.
– A good shot, that.
