MONTREAL – The Thunder Bay under-16 Kings have returned home after a remarkable weekend experience, that involved the National Hockey League’s Montreal Canadiens, as well as a pair of exhibition contests against AAA competition.
While in Quebec, the club basked in a unique opportunity to take in a full Canadiens’ practice, gaining an up-close look at the pace, structure, and intensity required to compete at the NHL level.
That provided a valuable insight into how professional players translate practice habits into game performance.
Among the highlights of the trip came when they participated in their own on-ice session, led by Habs’ assistant coach, and Kings’ alumnus, Trevor Letowski.
The players and staff were also welcomed into a private dressing room area prior to their skate, where they received an inspiring message from Montreal head coach Martin St-Louis, followed by a special address from Letowski.
St-Louis took the time to personally greet and shake each player’s hand, reinforcing a key message: “Respect the drill,” which left a lasting impression on the group.
The team was then treated to an exclusive tour of the Canadiens’ practice facility, followed by a behind-the-scenes visit to the Bell Centre, including a walk through the iconic dressing room and access to areas typically reserved for NHL players.
The team extends a sincere thank you to Letowski for helping make these unforgettable moments possible.
Part of the trip also included two exhibition contests against the Ulysse Académie U18 Prep School side in suburban Montreal, along with an encounter with the Ottawa Valley Titans U16 AAA club in Renfrew, Ont.
Thunder Bay went on to fall 4–0 in both games as they now gear up to compete in the OHL Cup later this month in Toronto.
Supplied photos
Hockey
U18 Roster Announcement
