MONTREAL – It’s not every day you get the chance to speak with a veteran of 12 seasons in the National Hockey League, but that was the case last week for a group of remarkable student-athletes.
Paul Byron, who played seven of his 12 NHL seasons with the Blue-Blanc-Rouge, came to the Bell Centre on June 3 to meet with 28 top-level young hockey players who received scholarships jointly awarded by the Canadiens and the Aléo Foundation, whose goal is to help young athletes excel beyond the sport and provide them with the advice and resources necessary for their development.
Now serving as a player development consultant for the club, the 35-year-old former striker took the time to answer questions from the young people on various topics related to his hockey career and life as an athlete.
In summary, his message to the recipients of the numerous scholarships was: The work never stops.
“Being drafted alone is unbelievable, but for you it is unbelievable [choix] Whether it’s the first or fourth round, it doesn’t change anything,” said Byron, who was selected in the sixth round (179th overall) by the Buffalo Sabres in 2007. “You have to show up to camp, put on your work boots and prove it. You’re a desirable player. Do something different than others, show your ability, your tenacity. Being drafted is just an invitation to play. »
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