Interview with former Titan Nicolas Laplante
BOUCHERVILLE, Wednesday, January 16, 2008 In the next few weeks, the official website of the QMJHL will present a series of interviews with former players. This week, we sit down with Titan alumni Nicolas Laplante.
Nicolas played four seasons in Acadie-Bathurst before concluding his career in 2005 with the Victoriaville Tigres. He has spent the past three seasons playing hockey for the University of Moncton while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration/marketing.
<b>Hockey</b>
<i>Can you help us understand the major differences between playing University hockey and major junior hockey?</i>
"I think the biggest difference revolves around the added physicality of the game at the University level. In the "Q", I think the smaller players can get away with a lot more than they would up here. Guys are much more experienced and mature, which is normal since you’re often playing against 26 or even 27-years-olds."
<i>After you’ve completed your degree, is your plan to keep playing?</i>
"It depends a lot on the job opportunities that are out there. If I live in Moncton, I think I’ll try playing senior hockey, but if I move back to Quebec, I could play in a semi-pro League."
"I’ve always had a great passion for the game. Ideally, I’d like to choose the path that will enable me to play for a few more years."
<i>What are your goals from here until the end of the season?</i>
"I want to help the team win. Last year, we almost won the national championship. It’s something that I want to accomplish, even more so considering that the City of Moncton will be hosting the championship this year."
<b>School</b>
<i>What motivated you to pursue a degree in marketing?</i>
"Marketing touches several fields: promotional activities, commercial representation and research. That’s what attracted me to it. Also, I'm a people person; it mirrors my personality."
<i>In 2003-04, you were named the QMJHL Scholastic Player of the Year. How were you able to accomplish such an important feat?</i>
"I’ve got to thank the Titan organization for that. They gave me the tools and the support I needed to succeed. When I started my major junior career, the organization had just implemented a new academic program. Paul Cormier, the team’s academic consultant, was a key in my success story. He helped me prepare for the Scholastic Player of the Year interview process while the Titan helped me perform on the ice, in the community and in school."
<i>You have been a member of the committee which selects the winner of the award for two years now. What do players need to focus on to stand out? </i>
"They have to focus on several factors: the way that they conduct themselves during the interview process, their performance on the ice and in school. Moreover, their personality and values are considered, but to a lesser degree. Some players have a knack for it while others have to work harder, and that’s also important."
<b>Life in Moncton</b>
<i>What is a typical day like in the life of Nicolas Laplante?</i>
"I go to school on a full-time basis just like any other student. I take five classes per semester, from Monday to Thursday. This schedule enables me to play hockey without missing any class time."
<i>You are a native of St-Georges-de-Beauce and have been studying in Moncton for the past three years. What do you enjoy the most about the city?</i>
"I really love it here. I’m even thinking about settling down in Moncton once I’ve finished school. It’s a fairly large city – with more than 65,000 residents – but it feels like a small town with all the commodities of a big one. I’ve spent two summers here and I really enjoy the beaches."
"At the University, it’s about the same thing: there are about 25 to 35 students per class, which helps us work more closely with our teachers."
<b>Complete the following sentences:</b>
<i>Consolidating school and hockey is </i> " completely feasible! I’m a perfect example. I’m completing my bachelor’s degree while playing hockey."
<i>If I hadn’t chosen business administration/marketing, I would be </i> " studying to be an architect or a mechanical engineer. I’ve always been fairly creative and I enjoy drawing quite a bit. It’s one of the reasons I chose marketing."
<b>The QMJHL would like to wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours.</b>
