The boomerang boys are back. After a one-year stint with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, Francois-Pierre Guenette, Marc-Andre Bernier and Alexandre Picard have returned to familiar territory with the Halifax Mooseheads.
“It feels good to be back,†said Guenette, following a Mooseheads practice this week. “We went through a lot with the team a couple of years ago, so it’s good to be wearing the red and green jersey again.â€
Complicated trade
If you are a Mooseheads supporter, but have lived under a rock, Guenette, Bernier and Picard earned the moniker “boomerang boys†for their part in a complicated trade between Halifax and Cape Breton in January 2003.
In that deal, the highly-skilled trio were informed they would stay with the Mooseheads until the end of the 2002-03 season, but pack their bags and go to Cape Breton for the 2003-04 campaign.
And, as an added bonus, they also learned that after their season with the Eagles was finished, they would pack up their bags again and return to Halifax.
Complicated stuff, eh?
“I think it was good for me,†said Picard, of the last 18 months. “I saw what it was like to play somewhere else.
“Last year, we didn’t have such a good year in the playoffs, and I think I learned a lot from that — what not to do. I think the big thing is just to find out what the team chemistry is right from the beginning, and I think we have a great one in the dressing room right now.â€
With the Eagles, Guenette and Bernier came under fire from some Cape Breton fans who felt they weren’t always playing to their ability in the playoffs.
Cape Breton was favoured to go all the way last season, but was ousted in five games to the Chicoutimi Sagueneens in the second round. Bernier posted a goal and three assists in the playoffs. Guenette had two assists.
“We always played as hard as we could,†Bernier said. “That’s our job — to play hockey. We want to get seen by NHL scouts and all that stuff, so we’re only doing our job.
“Hockey is a team game. You can’t blame it on individuals.â€
The trio had the chance to play their former team for the first time on Sunday, when the Mooseheads paid a visit to Centre 200 in Sydney. The game turned out to be a very emotional one, with Guenette and Bernier being booed every time they touched the puck.
“We knew it was going to be really emotional, and we’re glad we went through it,†Guenette said. “But now it’s behind us and we’re focussing on the season.â€