Alex Belzile was a key cog in the Hartford Wolf Pack forward group. In two seasons, he scored 38 goals and added 68 assists to the top six as a do-it-all veteran. His return to Hartford was a reminder of the impact he provides as he scored a goal that made the game 4-2 and ultimately put the Wolf Pack away in a 5-2 Laval Rocket victory.
You Might Also Like: Americans Have An Electric And Fun Offense
Belzile is the type of player that the Rocket want and the Wolf Pack need. The recent game showed two teams heading in opposite directions, and a player like Belzile, who signed with the Rocket this summer, shows how valuable a veteran like him is to a team. “He’s a very good player and a very good leader, and we’re just happy to have him back on our side,” Rocket captain Lucas Condotta noted after the recent game.
The Rocket look like a Calder Cup caliber team while the Wolf Pack lost their seventh game in a row and are plummeting in the standings. Belzile is someone a great American Hockey League (AHL) team brings in to not only win but help mentor the prospects, something the Rocket are experiencing firsthand.
Belzile Brings The Spark on Offense
Throughout Belzile’s career, he’s been a facilitator. He makes the other skaters around him better and distributes the puck, especially in the offensive zone. Belzile looks for the open linemates and provides them with good looks on the net.
The bonus is that he’s also a scorer and can find the back of the net when needed. It’s not just his shot but his ability to find the puck near the goal and make the most of it. He’ll be in the right spot in the offensive zone, knowing the puck will find him and then make the defense pay.
Even at 34 years old, Belzile can play in any situation and make an impact on offense in different ways. Ideally, he’s best in the offensive zone, when the game slows down and he can drive the play. That said, he’ll still make plays on the rushes and skaters with the best of them, even in a league where youth and speed surround him.
The experience is what the Rocket want on the ice. It’s allowed him to find goals where others would struggle to do so. His goal against the Wolf Pack in the 5-2 win was a great display of his awareness and hockey sense. He skated to the shooting lane and deflected a shot from the point into the back of the net. He had to battle for position but got into Wolf Pack goaltender Dylan Garand’s sightlines and redirected the puck into the goal. It’s that spark on offense the Rocket need in the big games and can get it from him.
Belzile’s All-Around Game
He’s known for his offense, and that’s why the Rocket signed him. The Rocket were looking for a veteran who could still generate offense to help the younger skaters develop. Little did they know they were adding a veteran who could play well in all situations. Likewise, the Wolf Pack had no idea they were losing a player they leaned on in all situations, and they are dealing with the consequences because of it.
The Rocket ask Belzile to kill penalties and step up on the defensive end. “He’s a complete player with great leadership skills,” Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent noted about the veteran forward, adding, “He plays that right way or he tries to.” Belzile is far from the best defensive forward, yet he’s a complete player who plays well on every shift. When the young skaters see him compete in all three zones, they know they must play that way as well.
The prospects are looking to join the NHL team someday. In the Rocket’s case, that means joining the Montreal Canadiens, a team with no shortage of skill. The Canadiens will look for forwards who can do it all to round out their roster. Belzile is an example of how to play that way and someone the younger players can mirror.
Belzile Brings a Lot Off The Ice
The word “culture” is often overused in sports. Teams want to establish a winning “culture” or change it for the better. Belzile is the type of player who establishes a winning culture. It’s not just his play on the ice but the energy he brings off of it as well.
Belzile is notably a great character in the room and someone who brings positive energy. “He’s such a vocal positive man,” Vincent added after the latest game. The AHL season is a long one, and the dog days can hit a team like a ton of bricks. When the clocks change, the weather cools, and the long, cold winter nights set in, the reality hits that the hockey season is long and sometimes brutal. Belzile knows that. It’s why he’s a guiding presence but also a player who lifts the team in the dark months.
For Vincent, Belzile is also the bridge player he needs. Specifically, Vincent has a vision for the team and wants the young players to buy into it. Belzile is an ideal messenger as he knows what it takes to win and can buy what Vincent is selling. He’s the buffer for the head coach and can get the most out of the team as a result.
Teams need those veterans to bridge the gap between the coaches and the players. This applies to any sport. This also applies in the NHL, where teams acquire veterans just to help with the messaging and setting the tone. Belzile is one of the veterans on the Rocket who is helping Vincent get the most out of the team.“It’s huge since he brings that voice in the room,” Vincent noted, and it’s why they are one of the best teams in the AHL.
Hartford’s Loss is Laval’s Gain
It felt fitting that Belzile scored against his former team. It was his goal that put the game away and quite possibly changed the Wolf Pack season. The Wolf Pack entered the game with six losses in a row and without a drive to win games. It showed on Saturday night when the team didn’t show up and allowed the Rocket to run away with a 5-2 victory.
Belzile’s goal also wasn’t the game-winner, which shows how much the Rocket have done to build a contender. It was one of the many highlights from a talented team. The Rocket probably win that game even without Belzile. They don’t win it decisively without him. That’s where he stands out as the cherry on top (or the gravy on the fries and cheese curds for a better analogy). He’s taken a good Rocket team up a notch.
The Rocket were one of the best teams in the AHL last season. Yet, they came up short in the Calder Cup Playoffs as the Charlotte Checkers swept them in the Eastern Conference Final. Adding Belzile gets the Rocket closer to a Calder Cup and makes them a more complete team.
