It isn't an exaggeration to say Benoit-Olivier Groulx has been groomed to play hockey the right way since he was born.
His father Benoit was the head coach of the Gatineau Olympiques from 2001 to 2008 and then again from 2010 to 2016. In between, he coached the Rochester Americans in the American Hockey League, where he has been working again since 2016 as the head coach of the Syracuse Crunch.
Anyone who watched Benoit's teams play - and win three QMJHL championships - remembers their discipline and organization. So it's no surprise his son is a responsible two-way player whose character and intangibles made him the obvious choice to be this year's captain of the Halifax Mooseheads.
"It's my fourth year being a Moosehead so I'm very pleased," said the 19-year-old centre. "I didn't know when they announced it. I knew they were looking for a captain for 11 games and I was just being myself in the room. I was a leader last year and I wanted to be more of a leader this year."
Groulx broke into the Quebec league in 2016 after being drafted first overall by the Mooseheads. He said he paid close attention to how captains Taylor Ford and Keigan Goetz handled their leadership responsibilities that year.
Widely respected veteran Maxime Fortier set the example in Groulx's sophomore season, followed by Antoine Morand and his unofficial co-captain, Samuel Asselin, last season.
"They are probably my two best friends and I learned a lot from them," Groulx said. "They changed me a lot from my 17-year-old season to my 18-year-old year. Because of them I'm preparing myself much better off the ice and on the ice. I know how to manage my frustration better and I'm very grateful to have them as friends."
"I'm not a big talker but when I have to talk, I will," he added. "I'm not shy to speak in the room. We're all close in there and I'm (an outgoing) guy to start with. I try to be a leader by example on the ice. I always work hard in practice and I always want to improve. For sure I'm going to go hard for everyone; that's how we're going to get better and that's how we're going to create chemistry."
New business and unfinished business
Morand and Groulx are both prospects in the Anaheim Ducks' system. Both were second-round picks - Morand 60th overall in 2017 and Groulx 54th in 2018 - and the NHL organization clearly sees them as part of its future. Morand is in his rookie season with the Ducks' AHL team in San Diego and Groulx recently agreed to terms with Anaheim on his entry-level contract.
"That was nice," Groulx said. "I've been waiting for that moment for over a year now and they finally signed me three weeks ago. I think I had a good camp in Anaheim. They kept me a long time and I think I showed them I'm able to play with the big guys and they rewarded me.
"They talked to me at the end of camp. I had a meeting with the GM (Bob Murray) and Todd Marchant, the player development (director). He was really happy with my camp. He said my skating improved a lot and I wasn't as shy as last year because I knew what to expect on the ice and off. They were very pleased with my progression over the summer and they expect me to have another really good year and then another good summer, then turn pro next year."
But even though he has a pro career waiting for him at the end of this season, Groulx said he still has unfinished business at the junior level. The Mooseheads fell just short in both the President Cup and Memorial Cup finals last year, plus this is his final chance to represent Canada at the world junior tournament.
"It's a dream of mine since I was young," he said. "My dad won the world juniors in 2015 so obviously it's a goal of mine to make the team this year. I didn't make it last year but I think this year I have a really good chance. I'm playing with really good linemates and I think (teammate) Raph (Lavoie) has a pretty good chance to make it too. I've just got to keep being myself on the ice and off the ice and hopefully I get rewarded for that."
The Mooseheads' next game is at home on Friday against the Moncton Wildcats.
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