Ducks Training Camp Notebook: Brouillard, Benoit Chase Higher Expectations
Sep 23, 2021By AJ Manderichio/SanDiegoGulls.com
IRVINE, Calif. -- Hope sprung eternal today as the Anaheim Ducks hit the ice at Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena for the first day of on-ice Training Camp work.
The familiar drills and usual sounds of pucks hitting sticks and skates digging into the ice helped usher in a sense of normalcy for both coaches and players. Furthermore, players can now share rooms without masks and hold media availabilities in person.
It's helped players like Nikolas Brouillard feel more comfortable.
“Last year, it was a little tougher with COVID,” he explained following today's practice. “The mask, having to be tested every day. It's a little bit better now. It feels good to see everyone's faces.”
A relative newcomer to the organization, Brouillard is attending his first Ducks camp. The defenseman spent the 2020-21 season with San Diego after signing a one-year contract on January 11, 2021. He finished his rookie American Hockey League season with 3-11=14 points in 29 games. This included his first two AHL goals, his first power-play tally and his first multi-goal performance against the Bakersfield Condors on March 26.
After re-signing with San Diego this summer, Brouillard ramped up his offseason training, incorporating weightlifting and skating a few times a week to build toward camp. He admitted needing to “knock the rust off” during his group’s on-ice session but hopes this camp will help prepare him for an improved season with the Gulls.
“Just try to have a place in the lineup every night,” he responded when asked about his goals for the season. “Try and produce offensively, being good defensively and being a good teammate. I just got here in the AHL last year, and I want to establish my name here. I think I can do it.”
Simon Benoit, a fellow French Canadian, enters his fourth training camp with lofty goals of his own. The defenseman continued his strong play with San Diego in 2020-21, culminating in his National Hockey League debut on April 28 at Staples Center against the rival Los Angeles Kings.
Between Anaheim and San Diego, Benoit posted 1-7=8 points with 36 PIM in 44 games. With the experience still fresh in his mind, the Laval, Quebec native is hungry to push for a more regular NHL role.
“For me, the real work is just starting,” he said. “When you get that little taste of that league, you want to stay there, and I think working on the little details and being good defensively is the biggest aspect I need to be good at to keep me there. Other than that, just focus on my game and be hard to play against every night.”
He revamped his offseason program, reuniting with an old trainer to focus on adding more explosion to his skating. The regiment brought more intensity, and Benoit hopes it helps make him harder to play against this season.
The defenseman also admitted he’s taken on a leadership role within the organization’s growing contingent of French-Canadian players.
“It's my fourth year,” he explained. “I have a little bit more responsibility. I'm going to help those young guys do their place and help them mature in that league. If I can help them achieve their goal of playing in the NHL, it's a good step for him and for me.”
The juxtaposition of new players going through their first camp – and veterans reintroducing themselves to the grind of camp – immediately stood out to Ducks head coach Dallas Eakins.
“The guys worked, and that's what you want on day one,” he said. “We're trying to introduce a few new things, and we were able to plant those seeds. The normal first-day jitters. Some guys it's their first NHL camp. We have a few guys on tryouts and they're squeezing it already a little bit. That's natural. It's great to see some of our veteran guys, and even our younger guys who have played here, try to go over and settle those guys down a little bit.”
Training Camp practices run through Saturday and are open to the public and free of charge. Each group will take the ice tomorrow beginning at 10 a.m. PT. The Ducks will kick off Fly Together Weekend, the official launch of the 2020-21 season, on Saturday with an intrasquad scrimmage at 11 a.m. PT. Guests will have the opportunity to win prizes and engage in interactive games and experiences at Great Park Ice. As part of the celebration, Ducks Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray will host a hot stove after the scrimmage as well.
A suggested $5 donation to the Anaheim Ducks Foundation is recommended for those fans attending the event.