2024-01-06 05:00:00
The parents of the family who welcomed Samuel Montembeault have no memory of seeing their former protégé get angry.
“The calm it reflects, it is true, praises Manon Doucet. He’s a guy who’s on fire, who was a little last minute sometimes, who might run around the house, but he didn’t get angry.”
And neither Ms. Doucet nor her partner, Marc Bergeron, were surprised when, while attending a Canadiens game, they heard Martin St-Louis tell the goalkeeper’s mom and dad that he was no only “an excellent hockey player, but also an excellent human being”.
Samuel Montembeault in front of the Bell Center ice, with Manon Doucet and Marc Bergeron. Photo provided by Manon Doucet
Because in addition to his calm, which we allow ourselves to be described as legendary, this is what they had seen in Montembeault during the three years he stayed with them, while he wore the uniform of the Armada of Blainville-Boisbriand.
“Sometimes, when he had a bad match, you might sense that he wasn’t happy, but we didn’t put up with that,” she continues. And it didn’t last long. Quickly, his joy of living returned.”
When Samuel Montembeault arrived at their home, he was “stupid,” she remembers. He weighed 170 lbs at 6’3″.
It was therefore necessary to “fatten him up” so that he gained muscle mass, she says with a laugh.
Samuel Montembeault with Manon Doucet (to his left), Marc Bergeron (far right) and the children of the boarding family. Photo provided by Manon Doucet
The asparagus anecdote
The problem was that the young goalkeeper had a reputation for being difficult when it came to food.
“I see him arriving once more with his sheet made by his nutritionist,” she explains. We worked hard together, but he gave in to that.”
“The only thing is he doesn’t like eggs, so we had to find other proteins in the morning. But he did it without complaining.”
Samuel Montembeault in front of his locker in the Canadiens locker room, with Manon Doucet and Marc Bergeron. Photo provided by Manon Doucet
That’s because Montembeault has great trust in others, believe both Ms. Doucet and Mr. Bergeron.
To the point where the mother of the boarding family even managed to get her protégé to eat… asparagus, a vegetable that is certainly not at the top of many teenagers’ favorite lists.
“He looked at me and asked: “Manon, what are we eating? Am I going to like this?’” she recalls.
“Oh yes, you’ll like this, it’s asparagus, it’s really good!” she replied.
“It’s become his favorite vegetable,” adds Marc Bergeron.
“Ego before team”
The anecdote may seem anecdotal, but for the couple, it highlights why the Quebecer is today linked to the Canadian for several years, even if his early career in the NHL was a winding path.
Samuel Montembeault with Manon Doucet and Marc Bergeron in Riga, Latvia, during the World Hockey Championship, spring 2023. Photo provided by Manon Doucet
“He is open, he listens,” emphasizes Ms. Doucet. I tell myself that it must be like that, with his coach. He must believe in what he is told and adhere to it.
“That’s why I have the impression that the story of the three goalkeepers doesn’t bother him,” adds Marc Bergeron. He is the ego before the team. If the team needs that, the coach, the general manager needs that, well he will comply with that.
Samuel Montembeault was also a young person who liked to join a group, he remembers. During dinners, he chatted at the table with the whole clan, a principle very dear to his boarding family.
Not Guy Lafleur, but…
And even though he left their nest seven years ago, the Doucet-Bergerons note that the guardian has not changed at all.
They remained close, since they became friends with the entire Montembeault family, who, like them, came from the Bécancour region, near Trois-Rivières.
They even went to see the goalkeeper shine in the colors of Team Canada last spring at the World Championship held in Riga, Latvia.
“I’m tired when I watch his matches [à force de le soutenir] ! says Ms. Doucet, laughing. I have already told him that I hoped it would take some of the fatigue away from him.”
“He amazes me,” adds his partner. When we do activities with him, we see that he has an ability to meet people.”
“I wouldn’t say he’s Guy Lafleur, but he has an ability to make people feel like he’s giving people time.”
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