Retired Equipment Manager's New Book Reveals Lots About Pacioretty, Ducharme, Bergevin & More
Pierre Gervais, retired equipment manager for the Montréal Canadiens - recently published his book titled, Au Coeur du Vestiaire or In the Heart of the Locker Room, in which he revealed a bevy of juicy stories about the hockey club during his 35-year tenure with the team. Included in his book were tidbits on Max Pacioretty, Dominic Ducharme, Marc Bergevin, and much, much more.
For the sake of this story, we are going to cover merely the recent drama, as it is impossible to summarize his entire story in short form. Gervais also published the book exclusively in French (for now), so any quotes from the book are translated using Google translate.
Starting with Ducharme, Gervais wrote that Ducharme never had the full respect of the team.
"Dominique could not gain the value of the players. It was seen in his way of addressing the group. The guys also practiced too often that winter in the Canadian division."
He continued: "Speaking of disorganization, too often, players learned that they were not playing the wrong way. Cédric Paquette knew that he would not face the Blackhawks when he arrived in the locker room in Chicago because one of his [friends] in Montreal had told him by text. "
"When I hear people say that he lost his room in the end, he didn't lose it because he never really had it. Luke had the room. The guys were working for him."
"Ducharme went on record to say that not everything in the book was true, but Gervais added, "I told him that I had written what I had seen and heard and that if he came back, I wished him good luck."
"When I hear people say that he lost his room in the end, he didn't lose it because he never really had it. Luke had the room. The guys were working for him."
"Ducharme went on record to say that not everything in the book was true, but Gervais added, "I told him that I had written what I had seen and heard and that if he came back, I wished him good luck."
Nick Suzuki was recently asked about Ducharme's tenure in Montreal, given the nature of Gervais' tell-all book. As you would expect, the Habs' captain would speak highly of his former coach, suggesting that any faults in the team were not because of Ducharme.
From Renaud Lavoie: Nick Suzuki says Dominique Ducharme is not the only one to blame for the team's failures last year, "I wish him luck and hope he gets another opportunity in the league."
On former captain Max Pacioretty, Gervais writes:
"Pacioretty had a lot of misery with P.K. The two often yelled at each other. With the other players, it was just correct, but everyone knew what kind of individual he was. No one was more important than him. He didn't have much respect from the guys. I'm looking for friends in the locker room and it's hard for me to find him... "
On Carey Price, Gervais wrote a heartfelt, sincere recollection of his fondness of the Habs' netminder, saying he was surprised to hear of his substance issues.
"I loved and I deeply love Carey Price. It is an extraordinarily generous heart. He has both feet well on the ground. In fact, he has a foot planted in the earth. He arrived early in the morning, around 7:30 a.m., and we were chatterting while he was stretching. He is a simple man who loves nature and the outdoors. I fell backwards when I learned that he was going to detoxify. When I learned it was alcohol, I didn't understand at all. Never, never has he given a signal. I saw guys coming back drunk to the hotel or poached the next day in the locker room, Carey Price, never, "says Gervais.
On former GM Marc Bergevin, Gervais titled an entire chapter, Bergevin: L'Adolescent, which pretty much says it all. Gervais summarized the end of Bergevin's tenure as erratic and disinterested, questioning a number of the decisions he made toward the end. Which should come as no surprise to anyone who paid attention.
We barely covered the surface of Gervais' memoir, so if you are interested in learning more, there is a link below of Réjean Tremblay's summary; in French, however.
Source: Réjean Tremblay, Journal de Montreal
Top 10 latest hockey stories
