Laval Rocket Head Coach JF Houle Reveals the Shocking Character Issues Logan Mailloux Has Grown From During His Time in Laval: He is No Longer Irresponsible and Immature
With the recent nomination of Logan Mailloux for the AHL All-Star game, it sheds light on an excellent first professional season for the 20-year-old defenseman.
His journey, since his controversial selection in the 2021 draft, has not been smooth sailing for the young man. He has worked hard, both on and off the ice, to progress personally.
It must be said that the journey he has undertaken has transformed him into a better person, and we tip our hat to him.
However, thanks to a recent article by journalist Nicolas Cloutier, we have just learned that learning continues for Mailloux, even since he joined the professionals.
Here is an excerpt from what he reported about the defender's beginnings in Laval, and it says a lot about his evolution since the start of the season:
"In the 'unusual' category:
The reality is that Mailloux had a very complicated start to the season with the Laval Rocket after having made a very good impression at the Montreal Canadiens training camp.
On the ice, 'he was not comfortable,' according to head coach Jean-François Houle. And it wasn't going much better off the ice.
'At the beginning of the year, the maturity that we see today, it was not there,' Houle revealed to the media. [...]
Mailloux, no doubt used to dominating by surfing on his talent in junior, was not behaving like a professional, and his teammates did not fail to point it out to him, sometimes in a passive-aggressive way.
'The guys took it out on him a couple of times,' Houle confided. 'I think it wakes you up as a player. They cut his laces at one point because he was always late. He got the lesson: "Ok, I must no longer be late." Small things like that can be good for team spirit. It shows that a young player has to take his place and respect the rules.'
- Article by Nicolas Cloutier, on TVA Sports"
Wow! So we learn that Mailloux was solidly shaken up by his teammates during his beginnings with the Rocket.
These are behind-the-scenes details that had never been revealed before. What is important to remember from all this is not his immaturity upon his arrival in Laval, at his young age, it is quite normal. It's his progression as a hockey player, on and off the ice, that shows he is an individual ready to learn.
Jean-François Houle also explains that Mailloux has made giant strides in all aspects of his game, that he has become a true professional and that he has matured.
There are young people who act as professionals from the start, others learn to be so by mingling with real pros. Mailloux falls into the second category, and it's very encouraging that it only took him a few weeks to adapt to his new reality.
Currently with the Rocket, the Canadiens' first-round pick totals 20 points in his first 32 games in the AHL. He is also on a streak of nine points in his last 10 starts.
His future is very promising in Montreal.
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11 JANVIER | 204 ANSWERS Laval Rocket Head Coach JF Houle Reveals the Shocking Character Issues Logan Mailloux Has Grown From During His Time in Laval: He is No Longer Irresponsible and Immature Do you think Logan Mailloux deserves a call-up? |
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