At age 32, Vincent Arseneau never has, and probably never will, play an NHL game — and he has no complaints.
The Laval Rocket’s oldest player has had a nomadic pro career, playing for the wonderfully named Denver Cutthroats of the CHL, three ECHL teams and six more in the AHL. Not bad for a guy who went undrafted and turned pro during the 2012-13 season.
“Hockey is what I love,” Arseneau told The Gazette on Tuesday, following a development day practice at Place Bell. “I’m still passionate about it. Especially coming back here always was a plan in my career. I’m happy it happened at 32. It could have happened earlier maybe. I just love it. The way it’s going right now, it’s hard not to like the situation. The crowd every night … it’s hard not to want to play when you see 10,000 people on a Wednesday night when it’s -23 C outside. It’s extra motivation.
“I’m happy and glad to still have a chance to do it. Every kid growing up from Quebec all watch the Montreal Canadiens. For me, coming from a small island … it’s pretty rare a guy’s going to have the chance to do it. I don’t take (anything) for granted. It’s a great organization. It’s unreal.”
Arseneau hails from Îles-de-la-Madeleine and played junior for Acadie-Bathurst and Shawinigan, winning a Memorial Cup with the Cataractes in 2012. He also won a pair of ECHL titles with the Texas-based Allen Americans — now an affiliate of the Utah Hockey Club — scoring the championship-clinching goal in 2015.
Arseneau was an alternate captain with AHL Providence last season, so obviously has some leadership qualities. But at 6-foot-2 and 231 pounds, there’s nothing complicated about his game. Every team needs a player cut from Arseneau’s cloth, and his 54 penalty minutes in 24 games this season speak volumes.
But with four goals and nine points, not to mention a plus-1 rating, he provides more to the Rocket than simply a physical presence. Of late, he has been drawing a regular left-wing shift on Laval’s fourth line, playing with Florian Xhekaj and Luke Tuch.
Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent is happy to have Arseneau.
“Every team needs a guy like him, but guys like him are hard to find,” Vincent said. “He knows his role. He has experience. He’s like a big brother for the younger guys. He’s a straight-shooter, really tough and well-respected around the league. Our younger guys can play without worrying too much. On top of that he’s a really good teammate and a good person.
“It’s a hard job, but for him he brings consistency and understands when he’s not playing, but doesn’t like it. He doesn’t bring those moments into the room. He’s a special player and man. He was a first-round pick in major junior. The guy can play, but developed that style of play over the years. It’s in him to be the cop, the security guy on the ice. He does it really well but isn’t chasing people. He can make plays and drive the net. He provokes things with his style of play.”
There’s tough and there’s hockey tough. Earlier this season Arseneau broke the ring finger on his left hand during a fight against Syracuse’s Kale Kessy, 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds. Arseneau popped the finger back into place himself.
“I don’t think the doctor was really happy,” Arseneau said. “There was adrenalin and it’s part of my game. No way, my first fight in Laval with a full house, it’s going to take 10 seconds (to fix). It was just a reaction. It’s what happened. It’s who I am. I’m not the smartest all the time, but I’ll go 100 per cent every time.
“It didn’t really hurt at the time. But after that I could see it’s not straight. It’s not all right. It’s not bad. It’s part of the risk. It’s part of the game. I work for every penny I have. Everyone says we get paid a lot for what we do, but we deserve the money. It’s who I am. I know I can play hockey.”
The Rocket is off until Friday, when it hosts Hartford. Cayden Primeau probably will start in net. Primeau hasn’t lost in seven starts since being demoted from the Canadiens, has a 1.83 average, one shutout and .925 save percentage. It also potentially would be defenceman Jayden Struble’s third game with Laval since being assigned from Montreal on a conditioning stint.