BEAULIEU TREASURES ALUMNI EXPERIENCE
Former Sea Dog spends time with Cole Pender; talks taste of NHL hockey
Saint John Sea Dogs PRESS RELEASE
Aug. 26, 2013
SAINT JOHN – This summer has been nothing if not eventful for former Sea Dog and current Montreal Canadiens top prospect Nathan Beaulieu.
One of Beaulieu’s biggest fans, Cole Pender, dropped the puck in a ceremonial faceoff and was honorary captain of the Sea Dogs Alumni team during the Wallace McCain Memorial Alumni game Sunday afternoon. Cole was celebrating his own victory over cancer earlier in the summer. It was news Beaulieu will not soon forget.
“I was fortunate to come back about a month ago to see my buddy Cole who was cured of cancer,” said Beaulieu. “It’s crossed my mind almost every day since I’ve been here how lucky we are to have him to this day. It’s unfortunate what he’s had to go through, and what his family’s had to go through. It’s good that DK (David Kelly, Sea Dogs Head Equipment Manager) took the time to set this event up and bring Cole in.”
Prior to visiting Saint John, he got his first taste of the NHL after being called up by the Canadiens for a six game stint just prior to the start of the 2013 NHL playoffs. The Strathroy, ON born Beaulieu took some lessons and excitement from his stint in the Bigs and feels he was lucky to have caught his break.
“It was a dream come true really,” Beaulieu said. “The season was winding down and I didn’t know if I’d get in this year. A couple of injuries went down and I was fortunate to get six games in and finish the season there. I didn’t play in the playoffs, but just being there… the atmosphere was special. It made me hungry. It was an important summer for me and I feel ready and that I can make the jump this year.”
He was back in Saint John and took part in this weekend’s Alumni festivities. Along with fellow former Sea Dogs Danick Gauthier, Ryan Sparling and Kevin Gagne, Beaulieu visited Harbour Station to take part in Sea Dogs practice Friday afternoon.
“Being around the rink and seeing a few familiar faces, not many, as there have been a lot of changes, but it’s still definitely exciting,” says Beaulieu. “I’ve got a lot of good memories in this city.”
The feeling brought back his own memories of coming to Sea Dogs training camp.
“The young guys were really nervous today, and I probably would’ve been the same way,” said Beaulieu. “I was just trying to talk to them and be friendly. I know when skated with pros as a kid I was definitely nervous and didn’t want to screw up. I was talking to Mike Kelly and we have a really young team here and it’s a rebuilding process that this organization has to go through, but everyone does it. I know in a couple of years, they’ll be contenders again.”
The Sea Dogs Foundation threw an excellent event last weekend that brought together several generations of Sea Dogs and fans alike. The Foundation was able to raise close to $15,000, with more to come. The Foundation can now grant another Wish Child their dream and donate to the Brendon Oreto Foundation and Top Corner Foundation.