A beautiful project claimed by the Montreal Canadiens in the seventh round of the last draft (216th overall), Miguël Tourigny strayed off the beaten path to reach the NHL despite his 5ft 8in. And it pays off.

On the recommendation of the Canadians and his advisor, the ultra-dynamic defenseman didn’t return to the QMJHL for his final season at age 20 – we understand the reasoning after a season with 80 points, including 31 goals, in 65 games. Towards Slovakia to progress with the Trencin Dukla.

To compete with the adults, Tourigny agreed to be out of his element and live alone in an apartment for the first time in his life.

“Of course, at the beginning I asked myself what I was doing in Slovakia alone at the age of 20,” says the man who provided rain and good weather with the Blainville-Boisbriand armada and the Bathurst Titan on the phone.

Overnight, Tourigny skated on larger ice, followed street signs in the Slovak alphabet, and used the app to shop for groceries. Google translator.

A NOTICED ENTRANCE

It didn’t take long to get comfortable. The Quebecois has picked up seven points, including three goals, in 12 games in his first steps professionally, some of the most respectable stats against adults.

“He’s one of the best attacking defenders in our league,” Slovak journalist Patrik Mitas told TVASports.ca in private messages. His potential is really high. But he can do even better by going to the gym 100%.

“He looks great. He dominates in the offensive zone. He uses his cane judiciously. Very good skater. He looks like a fourth striker.”

Let’s say little Vlimeux made a remarkable entry into the Slovak league. Make no mistake, despite his small stature, Tourigny is a defender who likes to play hard; Last season he was the second most penalized player at the Courteau circuit.

“My first game was in Bratislava, against what is currently the best team in the league. Towards the end of the encounter I was on a carry approach and hit a guy in the blind spot a bit. I had no idea who it was.

“Then I’m jumped on and get a hit on the nose. Already in my first game! I didn’t want to fight, it was my first match! After that I knew I had attacked one of their best players. I didn’t take it personally, it’s part of the game!”

A PARTNER FOR 41 YEARS

Despite an interesting start in a league full of experienced players, Tourigny is not satisfied. Normal. A 5ft 8 defender can never be satisfied. If he wants to make the NHL, he has to work harder than the others.

“I can’t say I’m completely happy with my performance,” admits Tourigny, who will return to Quebec next year to try and earn a spot in the American League with Laval Rocket. And let’s not forget that I’m mainly here to improve the weaknesses that I had on the defensive. I’ve been criticized for that since I was young, so of course I work a lot with the coaches. I would like to refine my offensive contribution. It’s one of my strengths, but it’s not quite there yet.”

For the time being, Tourigny has to be content with playing on the second wave of the power play. “When I arrived, ours power play was one of the best in the league so I didn’t dare ask too many questions!”

He is also used on the second wave just ahead of a man. If the strength is the same, you will find him sometimes with the first couple, sometimes with the second couple, but often with the same partner, the eldest in the team. A man named Tomas Starosta… 41 years old! No, you don’t have the error.

Tourigny is still speechless when he talks about it.

“He played in the KHL for a long time. Even at 41 you can see him walking and he looks my age. Sometimes I get puck handling and I’m like, “What?!” Sure he’s not going to go back and forth all the time but he’ll play smart and sometimes he’ll come out with skills and I’m like, “Wow!” At 41, I take my hat off to him…”

Starosta’s mentorship, with all his experience, is gold and silver. And Tourigny absorbs like a sponge.

Image rights: Joël Lemay / Agency QMI

FROM JUNIOR TO PRO

“I’ve seen a lot since I’ve been here. I have nothing else to do but play hockey. I watch a lot of videos. I mainly watch what’s happening in the zone and how players place themselves.

“Since I’ve been here I appreciate much, much more than when I was younger: the way the attacking defenders play in their zone and even the defensive defenders.”

Junior’s little boy becomes a man, but also a pro. His approach has become much more meticulous.

“Living alone in an apartment ages much faster. The guys from abroad in my team, I talk to them a lot. I watch what they do to always be 100% and try to copy that.”

He spends a lot of time with the Trencin coaches to learn the intricacies of defensive play and better understand attacking moments.

“We still talk to each other often. It’s about unpacking and small details. My coach lets me play my game a lot Game, but sometimes he’d rather hold me back than kick my ass. He tells me when there is not much time left on the period: “Mig, not too offensive, play yours Gamebut not too much, don’t take chances.” That’s the kind of stuff I’m trying to improve on: realizing there’s two minutes left in the period and avoiding a cookie-cutter climb for absolutely nothing to do.”

Tourigny is also working on a new technique he learned at rookie camp from Canada’s head of development Adam Nicholas.

“That fishing, the high-speed carrier approach. Always keep skating forward on the edge of the boards. That was one of the things that we practiced a lot and that I try to incorporate into my play in the neutral zone. The aim is to close the gap as much as possible when the opposing player is in possession of the puck.

“It’s the kind of stuff I never really thought I’d use in my life, but I’m finally realizing it’s very useful in my life. Game.”

The discussion ends when he is asked why he has not yet visited the famous Château de Trencin, one of the area’s main attractions.

“I can tell you that the Slovak flu is stronger than the Quebec flu! A virus pretty much wore me out and I needed to rest. But I plan to go there with my teammates and put it on Instagram (laughs).