Their paths will go their separate methods for the following few days, however that doesn’t change something. Quebec Remparts goaltending coach Pascal Lizotte has a transparent message for NHL organizations: William Rousseau deserves an opportunity.
Rousseau and Lizotte have labored collectively for the previous three seasons and their collaboration ended with a shutout for the Remparts goalkeeper within the Memorial Cup closing final Sunday.
Rousseau will swap to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies within the subsequent few days and play his 20-year season in Abitibi, except an expert group offers him an indication by then.
“If it have been as much as me, I might inform NHL groups to spend money on William and reduce Lizotte to items. His progress is fixed. He got here right here at 17 and had a troublesome yr. Then on the age of 18 he shared the aim with Fabio Iacobo earlier than scoring the aim on the finish of the yr and this season he had an distinctive yr.
“Since he arrived with us his efficiency has solely improved. He has gained confidence and presence, which is essential for a goalkeeper. When the boys within the bed room see that their guardian is quiet, he calls for respect. »
A yr to show your self
For Lizotte, Rousseau overcame all of the challenges he confronted this yr. Final however not least.
“Originally of the yr we set ourselves quick, medium and long-term targets. We needed him to have begin to the season to be a part of Hockey Canada’s plans and that labored,” the coach recalled.
Rousseau was really considered one of 4 goaltenders invited by the nationwide program to the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. After a wonderful camp he had been reduce off however had been assured that if obligatory he could be the primary to be known as again.
“After Olivier Michaud, Julien Ellis and Louis Domingue, it was the fourth time I labored with a goalkeeper going to Canada junior camp. I knew from expertise that once they come from there they’re mentally drained. They expertise an emotional peak in December, whereas we normally wish to get them to expertise it in March. After that there at all times comes a lethargy that’s troublesome to deal with. It’s a must to let issues go. Will, I stated he’d play on the coals. He lacked the spark to ignite the hearth he had. »
Nice comeback
By way of exhausting work, each technically and mentally, Rousseau lastly discovered his route on the proper time and established himself as a mainstay for the Remparts within the playoffs, significantly within the semifinals towards the Gatineau Olympiques.
“We noticed the William from the beginning of the season,” agrees Pascal Lizotte.
Then, on the Memorial Cup match, he confronted new challenges when he discovered himself in a match the place two of the 4 goalies – Thomas Milic for Seattle and Michael Simpson for Peterborough – had simply received MVP awards of their league. Moreover, Milic was considered one of two goaltenders who stripped him of a berth with Junior Staff Canada in December.
“When he first confronted Milic, everybody talked to him about that confrontation,” Lizotte remembers. I stated to him, “Will, your job is identical.” Your opponent is the puck. The one distinction is that the fellows throwing at you’re typically wearing inexperienced and typically in crimson. You want to focus in your course of as you haven’t any management over the remainder. ”»
And it really works. Rousseau twice and never as soon as had the higher hand over Staff Canada Junior’s beginning goaltender, together with within the Memorial Cup Finals due to a 32-saver shutout.
Word that the Trois-Rivières native is a three-year NHL draft choose. If he doesn’t discover a taker in Nashville on June 29, he’s free to agree with both group.