Petes rookies look to Gauvreau for guidance
Overager only defenceman left from championship run last season
On the ice, Cam Gauvreau is one of the most feared players in the OHL, but to his teammates he’s a much needed mentor to a young Peterborough Petes defensive corps.
Once the dust settled on the Petes’ flurry of rebuild trades at the Jan. 10 OHL deadline, Gauvreau was the only defenceman left who had played in the league prior to this season. It’s a big change from the veteran-laden defence which anchored the Petes’ run to an OHL championship last year. Gauvreau is now surrounded by rookies looking to him for guidance.
The only overage player left on the Petes roster admits it was initially tough to see so many of his teammates traded at the deadline and, for a brief period, it even looked like he might get dealt or at least he knew it was a possibility.
“I had a lot of close friends on the team last year who got traded this year and it’s been a bit of a culture shock,” said Gauvreau. “We have a lot of young talent and good players on this team, good personalities. Even though we’re losing it’s been fun to watch these players grow and mature.”
Gauvreau said everyone understood this was a possible direction the team might go in.
“It’s kind of the process of junior hockey. After you win a championship the next year you have to get some picks back and unload some players. It’s just kind of the way it goes,” he said. “It is tough to adjust to, but we’re doing what we can here.”
He said he’s embracing the challenge of being a leader on a young team. “I’m doing my best,” he said.
Petes head coach Rob Wilson discussed the team’s direction with all the older players who remained after the deadline and asked them to embrace a leadership role on a team suddenly significantly younger than it was to start the season.
Gauvreau has done just that, said Wilson.
“He’s handled it really well,” said Wilson.
“I can lean on him and say if one of the D is continually not doing something the way we want it done, he has a nice demeanour about him where he can go and chat with them and the players like and respect him. I think he’s very comfortable in the role he’s in right now of being a leader.”
Wilson also sees Gauvreau taking the initiative and mentoring players without the coaches asking.
“He bought in right away. Cam is one of those players who is appreciative of anything. He appreciates responsibility and ice-time and he’s taken on this responsibility of being a leader. He would have loved to have gone for another championship, but he feels very fortunate to have this responsibility and he’s done a great job for us.”
Gauvreau sees a lot of potential in the group.
“These kids have a very bright future. Peterborough is a great city, has a great coaching staff and the fans are unreal. It’s a great hockey city and I really believe this team is going to succeed in the future,” said Gauvreau.
He says it means a lot to the players to see the Memorial Centre still selling out and getting well above 3,000 fans most nights despite how many losses the club has had since changing direction.
“It shows you how passionate the fans are here about the Petes. It doesn’t matter if we are winning or losing, they have got our backs no matter what. It’s a pretty special feeling.”
The Petes left Thursday for a northern road trip which takes them to face the Sudbury Wolves on Friday night and the Soo Greyhounds on Saturday night. Their next home game is Feb. 29 against the Erie Otters.