Committed to winning
Zac Beauregard willing to do whatever it takes to help Charlottetown Islanders succeed
Zac Beauregard wanted to put himself in the best position possible to help the Charlottetown Islanders have a big second half.
The 19-year-old centre from the Montreal suburb of Repentigny stayed in Charlottetown during the Christmas holidays. It was his first Christmas not being with his parents (Annie Riopel and Steve Beauregard), two older brothers, an older sister and extended family.
“It was pretty hard, but we stayed in touch,” he said, noting they had regular Facetime calls.
Beauregard kept busy by working out, playing squash at The Spa and skating five times a week with Islandbased teammates and professionals.
Beauregard spent two weeks in quarantine when he arrived prior to the season’s start and said it affected his cardio.
“I was struggling for maybe a week to get back in shape, so I was trying to avoid that,” he said. “I stayed here for the holidays just to make sure I stayed in great shape.”
He also knew returning to Quebec, where there are many more COVID-19 cases than P.E.I., would not be like a normal year, and seeing friends wouldn’t be as easy.
The second half of a 19-year-old’s season for junior-aged players is prime time. Each team only has three spots for 20-year-olds, so making a good impression leading into the off-season is usually key.
While Beauregard knows the importance of the stretch drive, he isn’t concentrating on it. He’s all about playing his role to help the Isles go on a deep playoff run.
“That’s the reason why I am here. That’s my only goal.”
It’s music to a coach’s ear and not just lip service but words a player has shown through his actions for 2 ½ seasons.
“He wants to win, he’s driven to win, driven to succeed,” head coach Jim Hulton said. “He’s going to play a huge role in the second half. … Because there’s so much uncertainty, and nothing is normal and usual, you really rely on your leadership groupm and Beau is a big part of that here.”
Beauregard’s Charlottetown story began in June 2017 without much fanfare at the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft. He was a 10th-round pick, watching 179 players be selected before him. Making it from there to regular duty on a major junior team isn’t the norm, but Beauregard succeeded with a willingness to do what was necessary to make the team.
He was cut at rookie camp as a 16-year-old and went back to captain his under-18 squad.
“When I packed my gear the next year to come back here, I told my mom, ‘I’m not coming back’,” Beauregard recalled.
He played with an internal fire and a style that got him noticed by the coaching staff at nightly evaluation meetings.
“Hey, this kid might be small, but, boy, he plays big, he plays hard and plays the right way,” Hulton recalled.
That’s a key component to Beauregard’s underdog story. He’s five-foot-six, 155 pounds but doesn’t let that stop him from being an agitator on the ice. Hulton said he provides an adrenaline rush on the bench when he knocks a bigger player on his butt, infusing the team with energy.
“It’s infectious,” he said. “He’s a guy that can switch the momentum in a lot of different ways.”
Beauregard centres the third line and is a mainstay on the penalty kill. His game is built off his tenacity, speed and his forecheck ability while getting under other player’s skin.
“We’re not looking for him to change his role, we’re looking for him to perfect his role,” Hulton said. “He’s strong and he’s very intense. It’s a wonderful role for a third-line, energy, checking guy.”
Beauregard is one of four Islanders practising right now while the rest of the team remains in self-isolation at the Rodd Royalty hotel in Charlottetown. The team had hoped the Maritime guys wouldn’t have to isolate, so they held off on bringing them back. But with more cases in the neighbouring provinces, the Islanders decided last week to get them back on the Island.
“We have to be prepared to play towards the end of the month,” Hulton said.
The Maritime guys are about midway through their self-isolation process, while the Quebec- and Ontariobased players are a few days ahead of them.
“I think we’re all excited,” Beauregard said. “We missed the playoffs last year because of COVID. It’s frustrating because you don't have many years in the league.”