During the off-season, Nick told me that maybe he was going to use me as defender. I told him I was open to that change because the important thing for me was to be on the field. My main goal this season is to play more. I trained hard during the off-season with a personal trainer named Stacy Gough. He is renowned in my region because he’s also involved in training National Hockey League players. Now that I’m playing more, I would obviously like to stay in the line-up but to do so, I have to be consistent, meaning avoiding errors, playing simple and not giving the ball to the opponent.
"I would obviously like to stay in the line-up but to do so, I have to be consistent."
But you also have offensive qualities, having scored 10 goals during your college career?
Yes, but I have always been more of a defensive player. During my four seasons with Rhode Island University, I was known for playing well defensively in midfield and for distributing the ball. But in my early beginnings in minor soccer, I was usually the team’s goal leader. Times have changed! This is something that I would like to be better at in the future.
You were the Impact’s first pick in the 2006 USL College Draft. Were you surprised to be chosen by the Impact?
Yes and no, because following my college career, I wanted to play, so I hired an agent to help me sign a professional contract. My agent knew Peter (Pinizzotto) and he talked about me. But on the other hand, Rhode Island University is not a big school in the United States so I was surprised to be picked. Also, I wasn't sure of my chances to make the team after the draft. Finally, it gave me the chance to try out three weeks with the team and to sign a two-year contract.
Do you think that you will play many years with the Impact? What is your main career objective?
I’m always taking one season at a time because you never know what to expect. Right now, I’m happy with the Impact. Like all professional players, I would like to play at a higher level, for instance making it to some European championships. But for the moment, I’m glad to play in Montreal because it’s probably the best place to play in Canada.
You did get the chance to play in France before the age of 20. How do you explain your progression?
It’s true I was lucky to play in France. Because my mother is French, I also have the French nationality, and it gave me the chance to play there without a foreigner status. At 18, I played with the Paris Racing Club, in third division, then with Tourcoing FC, in a semi-professional second division. Then, I decided to come back to North America and I accepted an American scholarship.
Like many hockey players, it’s been said that you like to play golf?
Yes, If I could, I would play every day! When I was younger, between the age of 13 and 18, I was playing at least four times a week at the Welland Golf Club near my home. Because I was under 18, I had a discount on the membership fee. Now I only play occasionally, and I really miss it. I would like to play more. It’s such a great sport.
It seems that you also have a passion for animals?
I always loved animals. Every Monday afternoon, I do volunteer work for the SPCA and I help walk some dogs. I have a Boxer dog in Ontario, but I leave him home because I can’t take care of him during the season. In college, my first choice was environmental science and management, because what interests me the most is animal and habitat protection. After my career in professional soccer, I would like to do environmental research for animals.
