| 09 October 2011
There is not much that can prepare you for your first professional hockey game but going far in the CHL Memorial Cup tournament certainly helps. Someone not unfamiliar to that longer season and even to being a champion is rookie defenseman Marc Cantin.
Cantin most recently came up short as a member of the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors when they were defeated by the Saint John Sea Dogs in the Memorial Cup final. It stung but a year prior Cantin had played with Taylor Hall and won the Memorial Cup as a member of the Windsor Spitfires. He only spent the latter half of the season with Windsor but Cantin also played for the Belleville Bulls who enjoyed postseason success.
Marc Cantin skates at Bruins development camp in July 2011.
Last March the Bruins signed Cantin, who went undrafted, to an entry level contract. He had been an invitee to Bruins camp in 2010.
The Providence Bruins' home opener Friday night against the St. John's Ice Caps was Cantin's debut as a professional player. The Bruins lost 4-1 but that first game is something every player has to play and get past as they adjust into a whole new level of hockey.
"It was what I expected it to be," Cantin said of his first game, "I just tried to keep it simple and play solid."
As for the differences between OHL and AHL, Cantin says it is "obviously" the speed and strength of the guys. "It's expected," he said, "These guys are a lot older and they've been playing for a lot longer. Guys are a lot smarter; systemwise, teams are a lot tighter."
All the differences aside, something Cantin will not have to adjust to too much is the season length. With so many post season appearances, the blueliner is used to playing until late May and starting his summer a bit later than his hometown friends. "It's half the battle. You have to know how to treat your body," he said, "You have to do the right things on and off the ice as well as your eating as well as keeping your body physically prepared to play too."
It is not only the long season Cantin will be used to, but the more intense environment he is now in. "It’s a high pressure game, lots of energy, lots of fans and stuff," he says of his experience in playing for the Memorial Cup.
Cantin recorded one shot in the loss and finished a -1 while tallying two penalty minutes. But it was about what Cantin expected and he expects to get better. "It's going to take a few games to adjust but there is a lot to work on," he said. That kind of adjustment to the speed and different style of play is something he believes every young player has to go through growingwise.
If you ask Cantin for any goal for the season, he thinks of team goals first. But for himself? Just to establish himself as a good player and help to win some games.
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