Experts doubted Tristan Luneau. And Tristan Luneau doubted himself. Two years later, her resilience and patience paid off.

It was at the start of the 2021-2022 season. Luneau was returning from a knee injury that required surgery and kept him away from the ice and the gym for six months. It was also the start of his draft year. At the start of the season, he was seen as one of the best defensive prospects of this vintage.

“I’m not going to lie to you: I’ve gone my whole life without people doubting me. I have always been classified as a good prospect. The QMJHL draft was good. Until then, I hadn’t had too much adversity. »

Except that this year, the first overall pick of the QMJHL in 2020 had to redouble his efforts to become the defender he was again. However, Luneau is used to working hard: he is a perfectionist.

By working behind the scenes, he managed to score 43 points in 63 games with the Gatineau Olympics. Which didn’t stop him from falling down the hopeful lists during the season.

“Looking back, I’m still glad it happened early in my career,” he says. I doubted myself a bit during those times, it affected my performance more than it should have. But [the important thing] is really to realize that you are a type of player, a type of person and that there is no injury that is going to take that away from you. »

The young man was ultimately selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round of the 2022 draft. And last Monday, he learned that at age 19, he had made the team’s roster for the start of the season.

When Tristan Luneau calls us at the appointed time, our display shows “Victoriaville, Quebec”. Once verified, Luneau is located far from Victoriaville. It’s about 2,700 miles away in Anaheim.

We said it a little earlier: Luneau is a perfectionist. It comes from his family, he tells us. A sporty family; his three brothers all “excelled at their sport.” The oldest played football in the Green

“He’s probably the most disciplined guy in the family! »

“Growing up, I saw how much effort my brothers put in. My parents too. They had four athletic guys. Trying to coordinate everything and give us as many opportunities as possible, it was a full-time job for them. As you grow up, you see all that. In my head, I tell myself: I’m going to try to work a little harder than everyone else to make all their efforts worth it. »

At school, Luneau is at the top of his class. On the ice rink too. He realizes that everything won’t be “perfect all the time”, but he tries not to be too hard on himself.

Of course, it’s customary for a player to arrive at an NHL training camp with the idea of ​​surprising. But Luneau wasn’t just saying it to look good: he “really” believed in it.

Last year, at his first camp, the young man tried to do what the coaches asked of him while trying not to make too many mistakes. He wanted to leave a good impression. This year the goal was to dominate in every practice. Every game. He didn’t want to give Ducks leaders any reason to send him back to Gatineau.

“I didn’t want to give any doubt that I am capable of playing professionally. That was really the big difference [with last year]. »

In the world of professional hockey, players are rarely met by their team managers to be told that they have secured their place in a lineup. Luneau achieved this in recent weeks.

“You arrive at the arena every day and you hope that your pocket is not empty in the morning and that your plane tickets are not already purchased,” he says, somewhat amused.

Last Monday, he spent the day monitoring Twitter to find out if the Ducks would go for a defenseman on the market.

When asked what kind of support he receives in Anaheim, Luneau is quick to praise the “incredible” facilities, the coaches “who are all there” for him and the “extraordinary” and “very humble” veterans. .

The Ducks’ first game of the season is Saturday in Vegas against the Golden Knights. At the time of our interview, the Quebecer did not know if he would be one of the six defenders in uniform. If not, he will “keep working hard to be” eventually. And if he were to return to Gatineau for another season with the Olympics, he will be ready.

“I have learned so much in the last few weeks with a full training camp and start to the season that I am hopeful that I can help my team even better in Gatineau if that ever happens. I will bring this experience, this leadership. »

“No matter where I’m going to be, I’m going to be 100 percent committed to the organization that I’m going to be at. »