Ray of hope

First-overall pick Tomas Lavoie excited about future with Cape Breton Eagles

SYDNEY — Sitting in the concourse of Centre 200 Monday morning, Tomas Lavoie recalled the moment when he realized the Cape Breton Eagles wanted him to be part of their organization.

The projected first overall pick in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft, Lavoie knew from the moment the team met with him near Montreal there was a connection between the two parties.

“The first thing they told me was that it wasn’t an interview, but a meeting and I knew that was good news for me,” said Lavoie with a French accent.

“The president of the team (Gerard Shaw) told me about the city and about the players who played here, and I knew from that moment on that I wanted to play my major junior hockey in Cape Breton — my mind was made up.”

On Monday, Lavoie received his wish of being part of the Eagles organization when the team used their first pick to take the Repentigny, Que., product first overall at the QMJHL Entry Draft.

“It’s really special to be the first overall pick — I think it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I couldn’t pass on it, I’m excited,” said Lavoie. “I’m enjoying this moment and I want to show the fans that I’m deserving of being the first pick.”

Lavoie, who knew a couple of weeks ago he was being picked by Cape Breton, admits there wasn’t one specific thing that sold him on being part of the Sydney-based organization, noting the entire package offered was appealing to him.

“I thought it would be fun to be part of the team and the city,” said Lavoie. “I’m looking forward to getting on the ice with the team in August and

being part of this organization for the years to come.”

The 16-year-old Lavoie becomes only the third first overall pick in the Eagles’ 25year history in Cape Breton.

The Eagles selected forward James Sheppard with the top pick in 2004 and used their first selection in 2013 to pick forward Nicolas Roy, who refused to report to the club. Sheppard went on to play three seasons in Sydney.

While he understands the importance of being the top pick for fans, Lavoie doesn’t feel any pressure when it comes to expectations, especially next season.

“I think it’s business as usual here for me,” said Lavoie, who practised last week with former Eagle forward Matis Ouellet, who was traded on Saturday to Vald’Or.

“I’ll just do my job and I think things will be good for me. I don’t want to put any pressure on myself, I want to focus on what I have to do.

“I’m coming here with the mentality that I’m here to build up the team for the next couple of years and I’m here to help the team. I’m not here to have the team on my back – we have 20 players and it’s not on one, it’s on all 20 players as a team.”

A six-foot-three, 190pound defenceman, Lavoie considers himself to be a twoway player with upside both offensively and defensively.

“I know I can bring strong play in the defensive zone and I have a good hockey IQ and I can see the play before it happens,” said Lavoie. “I also think I can be good offensively and I hope to show that in this league.”

In May, Lavoie was ranked first overall on the QMJHL Central Scouting rankings list. He was among three forwards and a goaltender ranked within the top five for the draft.

“I was excited when I saw the list, but I was really surprised,” said Lavoie. “It was fun to see, and I knew I had worked really hard for it, so I’m glad I was able to claim that ranking — I’m very happy.”

Last season, Lavoie appeared in 36 games with the Collège Esther-Blondin Phénix of the Quebec Under-18 ‘AAA’ Hockey League, posting seven goals and 21 points. He had two goals and six points in six playoff games.

PROUD DAY

In recent weeks, some have labelled Lavoie to be the same style of player as New York Islanders defenceman Noah Dobson, who was taken sixth overall by current Eagles general manager Sylvain Couturier and the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in 2016.

Lavoie, who played his minor hockey in Repentigny, doesn’t necessarily disagree with the assessment but considers himself to be more like Florida Panthers star Aaron Ekblad and Chicago Blackhawks blue-liner Seth Jones.

“They’re both two-day defencemen and they have big bodies,” said Lavoie, who lives about 25 minutes away from Montreal but is a Toronto Maple Leafs fan.

“I really think I play like those guys and I consider them to be my idols.”

Lavoie and his family were in Cape Breton on Monday for the first overall selection. His mother Amelie Frigon and grandmother Michele Beaudoin arrived with him on Sunday, while his father Eric Lavoie, uncle Rene Aemisegger, and grandmother Joanne Lavoie flew into Sydney Monday morning.

As a parent, Frigon said she couldn’t be prouder of her son, but admits the last few months have come with finally see it written in black and white, it’s the proof and we’re so happy.”

Frigon acknowledged the fact the family never had a doubt about what Cape Breton could offer their son, both on and off the ice.

“We had a really nice meeting with the team and they told us they wanted him and that they would do everything to have him, so it was really exciting,” said Frigon.

“This is the first big moment of his career and we wanted him here. We can’t wait to be here in September.”

While some parents would rather see their kids play their major-junior careers closer to home, that wasn’t the case for Eric Lavoie.

"He’s going to be far away from home and I think it’s a good thing for him,” said the top pick's father. “It’s a new experience of a lifetime for him and we know he’s going to be well taken care of here, so as a family we’re happy and excited for this opportunity.”

Eric said the family never talked much about the draft prior to Christmas. He said his son’s draft stock began to rise during the second half of the year but was surprised to see him ranked at No. 1 at the time.

“We had no idea he would be ranked where he was,” he said. “You never think your son will go first overall, you always see other families celebrate but when it’s your son it’s special – I’m probably more nerves for him, but I’m very proud of him.”

Meanwhile, one person who will miss not being able to watch him play in person is grandmother Michele Beaudoin.

“It’s so emotional because I will miss most of his games, we will attend a few, but not being part of his process at this level, I will miss it for sure,” said Beaudoin, wiping tears from her eyes.

“It means a lot to me to be here in Sydney for Tomas. He’s such a sweet and humble guy. Everything he does is for the team and winning drives him before his own success.”

OTHER PICKS

Along with Lavoie, the Eagles were also scheduled to pick at No. 11 and No. 16 overall in the first round on Monday. The selections were not available at publication time, but a recap is available online at www.saltwire.com/capebreton.

As for Lavoie, he has a message for Eagles fans.

“I will change the atmosphere that was here last year,” said Lavoie, noting he’s familiar with current players Jeremy Langlois and Francois-James Buteau but doesn’t know them yet.

“I will try my best to get as many wins as possible. I want to have fun and I want the fans to trust me just as much as I trust them to support me.”