by Connor Lawrence | AHL On The Beat
It was a late November night when the straightforward query was posed to Lehigh Valley Phantoms ahead Alexis Gendron.
“When do you know you needed to play skilled hockey?”
“I at all times simply sort of knew,” defined the speedy 20-year-old Philadelphia Flyers prospect with amusing, whereas talking to a bunch of youth hockey gamers.
Sharing tales of his profession, Gendron mirrored on his personal expertise rising up within the sport and one of many folks he credit with making ready him probably the most: his father. Because the son of Martin Gendron – present Quebec-based novice scout for the Flyers and former AHL All-Star winger – Alexis noticed his love for the sport sparked from a younger age.
“I at all times regarded as much as him as a hockey participant and as a father, in fact,” stated Alexis. “He performed the sport the identical manner I do. He was an offensive ahead – a small ahead, too. He confirmed me shoot the puck after I was younger, at all times telling me to shoot laborious.”
Now in his first full skilled season with the Phantoms, Gendron nonetheless vividly remembers the numerous hours he spent perfecting his shot within the driveway along with his father by his facet.
“He performed a giant function in my profession, for positive,” Gendron stated.
Raised in Côteau-du-Lac, Quebec, however born in Switzerland whereas Martin was taking part in abroad, Alexis developed a love for hockey early on as he watched his father, hoping to someday observe in his footsteps.
By the point he reached junior hockey at 16, he started to consider an expert profession of his personal was inside attain.
“I didn’t count on to make the crew,” Gendron recalled of his first 12 months with Blainville-Boisbriand within the QMJHL. “It was sort of a shock, nevertheless it made me understand it may occur. I simply needed to preserve working. Two years after that, I received drafted by the Flyers.”
After racking up 60 factors in his first two junior seasons, the laborious work lastly paid off on July 8, 2022, when Philadelphia chosen him within the seventh spherical of the NHL Draft in Montreal – simply an hour away from his hometown.
The second got here full-circle, because it additionally meant he could be partially reunited along with his childhood hero, now working in the identical group – his father.
However the journey into the skilled sport over the previous 12 months wasn’t essentially as easy for the youthful Gendron, who skilled – and overcame – his fair proportion of setbacks en path to incomes a gentle roster spot in Lehigh Valley.
After making his skilled debut with the Phantoms at the start of final season, recording seven factors in 17 video games, Gendron quickly discovered himself out and in of the lineup and heading again to the QMJHL in his remaining 12 months of eligibility by January. Solely a month after becoming a member of Drummondville, he confronted yet one more impediment as he suffered a fractured ankle that will sideline him for many of the common season.
Regardless of the damage, Gendron returned to the lineup in time for the playoffs, recording a hat trick in Recreation 1 of the ultimate sequence to assist lead his crew to a league championship and a berth within the Memorial Cup event.
“It’s been a loopy, roller-coaster of a 12 months,” Gendron admitted. “Beginning the 12 months [in Lehigh Valley] and never taking part in a lot, I used to be nonetheless in a position to play juniors. It was a enjoyable 12 months to have the prospect to go to the Memorial Cup and be taught plenty of issues.”
Now again in Lehigh Valley, Gendron has embraced the challenges that include maturing and adapting to the skilled sport.
“Developing from junior, I actually wanted to work on my defensive facet,” he stated. “I believe it’s gotten higher. I’m simply attempting to be the very best 200-foot participant I may be, and proper now it’s stepping into the suitable route.”
Offensively, he has utilized his velocity and lethal shot to his benefit all through the primary half of the season, showcasing his goal-scoring capabilities on quite a few events.
“He’s coachable, he desires to be taught, and he desires to be higher,” stated Phantoms head coach Ian Laperriere. “He’s making enormous strides. He’s a goal-scorer, and he desires to attain each night time.”
Gendron has drawn inspiration from his teammates, significantly fellow Quebec native and veteran ahead Anthony Richard – a participant whose model he needs to emulate on the ice.
“After I was youthful, one in all my coaches advised me to look at Anthony Richard on the web as a result of we had been related gamers,” Gendron shared. “So now to play with him, it’s sort of a shaggy dog story attempting to be taught from him. He’s a mature participant. He can skate as effectively, and he can play offense and protection. I’m simply attempting to be taught from him to turn into that sort of participant.”
Off the ice, Gendron emphasised the significance of giving again to native youth gamers aspiring to someday attain the identical degree.
“It’s at all times good to work together with children,” he stated. “After I was their age, I regarded as much as professional and junior gamers. It’s at all times enjoyable.”
As Gendron continues to develop his sport with Lehigh Valley and work his technique to the NHL with the Flyers, his drive, dedication and confidence stay unfazed by the adversity he’s confronted to this point in his blossoming profession.
“Proper now, it’s a dream to play professionally, nevertheless it’s simply the beginning.”
