As captain of the Canadiens, Nick Suzuki is keen to have an impact beyond the ice. “I don’t want to be known only as the hockey player,” he said.
It is somewhat in this spirit that the Habs striker took part on Tuesday morning in the first golf tournament of the Heroes of the Asista Foundation, of which he has been the ambassador for a year. This role is, in a way, the first step of a greater involvement within the Montreal community for the 24-year-old athlete.
“As a captain, I want to go out into the community and have people see me, get to know me away from the rink,” he explained. […] Helping children and people in need is important to me. »
It has been almost a year since Suzuki was named captain of the Habs, an important role in a market like Montreal. If he “knew what [he] was getting into”, the Ontarian admits to having learned from contact with other leaders over the past 12 months.
“Marty [Martin St-Louis] and other team leaders gave me words of wisdom. I try to be better every day and every year. I think I will be more ready this year to fulfill this role. »
“There are several decisions I have to make for the team, for travel or on free days. These decisions, I have to get used to and familiarize myself with over time. »
Suzuki was seen in various sporting and cultural events in the city throughout the summer. We saw him at the Saputo stadium for a CF Montreal game, or at Parc Jean-Drapeau during the Lasso festival. Spending the summer in Quebec allowed him to “work a little” on his French, as he promised last year when he was appointed.
“It’s a work in progress, but I know a little more about the basics. It’s hard for me to have a conversation, but I try to listen to my teammates or people around to learn as much as possible. »
Nick Suzuki also took advantage of his summer to spend time with some CH teammates and recruits. Over the past few weeks, he’s been around youngsters like Joshua Roy and Riley Kidney. Between practices at the CN Complex in Brossard, the group played golf.
“I was able to get to know them a little more off the ice,” notes the center player.
“It’s good to see them get to the rink early. They don’t need to be there, but they want to practice in our facilities with me and other NHL guys, be around our staff, get comfortable. […] I had the chance to skate with them throughout the summer, I think they had good practices and improved. »
Like everyone else, Suzuki has followed the work of its general manager over the summer period. His linemate and good friend, Cole Caufield, signed an eight-year, $62.8 million deal. The two attackers will therefore be together for several years; that means even more rounds of golf and trips to the Bahamas.
“I was really happy for him,” he hinted. […] It was only a matter of time. I knew it would go well for him. And I know he is happy to be here for a long time. »
Suzuki said he was excited about the return of Sean Monahan and the arrival of Alex Newhook, with whom he spent a day in the metropolis. “He will fit in perfectly with our group,” the captain believes.
On the other hand, the departure of Joel Edmundson, a veteran whose impact was considerable, inevitably leaves a hole in the blue, white and red locker room.
“There are guys who will have to take more space, new leaders will emerge, notes number 14. That’s how it works when you lose guys like him. »
The Asista Foundation saves shelter dogs to make them companion dogs for people with mental health conditions. Over the past year, Nick Suzuki has visited schools that have service dogs and seen “their impact on young people”. Animal lover, master of two cats, the captain of the Habs takes pleasure in “assisting the foundation in events” such as the Heroes golf tournament, which brought together more than 100 golfers on Tuesday.
Suzuki said Jonathan Drouin’s situation in 2020-21 has “definitely opened his eyes” to mental health issues. The forward, who will wear the Colorado Avalanche uniform this season, had left the team’s entourage for personal reasons before revealing, a few months later, that he had been composing for years with anxiety and sleep disturbances.
“It’s definitely [raised my awareness] to experience it with someone close,” Suzuki said. Obviously, none of us knew what was going on in his head. To see that he came to the rink and that we didn’t notice anything, but that he was dealing with a lot of things… There are plenty of other people like him who live with mental health difficulties. »
