Ouellet humbled by Red Wings camp

Blainville-Boisbriand Armada coach J-F Houle calls it as he sees it, and he sees a bright future for his captain, Xavier Ouellet.

“He will play in the NHL,” he proclaimed. “He has lots of potential and is a good leader. He has a lot of confidence in himself and it shows in him and the other players. He’s a guy the team looks up to. He will only get better.”

Ouellet should get used to playing with NHL players, then.

He was in awe the first time he stepped into the dressing room at training camp for the Detroit Red Wings.

“You look up and you see players like Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Holmstrom and Lidstrom, players like that,” he said. “It’s impressive at the beginning. You huddle in and listen to Mike Babcock tell you instructions and you’re beside NHL players. It was a fun experience for me and after I calmed down I enjoyed it.”

Ouellet, 18, was drafted in the second round of last year’s entry draft. Last season was his rookie season in the QMJHL, and he didn’t disappoint. He scored eight goals and added 35 assists for 43 points. He then added eight assists in 10 playoff games.

This year’s Armada is considerably younger than last year’s Juniors. Last year, the team finished atop the TELUS West division with 102 points, good enough for second in the QMJHL. This season, the team moved from the creaky Verdun Auditorium into the new Centre d’Excellence Sports Rousseau in Boisbriand.

Currently, the team sits in 11th place in the 17-team QMJHL.

Houle said that Ouellet is a very trusted blueliner with his team.

“He’s a huge player for us,” he said. “He helps everyone. He plays against the top lines and plays a lot of big minutes.”

Ouellet said that being captain of this group is something he takes pride in, but it isn’t a one-man show.

“There are quite a few leaders here,” he said. “It isn’t just me. There are good veterans and everyone helps out in the room.

“It’s big for me [to be a captain at 18], but it doesn’t change my role or my game at all. I’m still the same player. I play the best way to help the team, whatever that will be each game.”

Ouellet said that the NHL is the goal, ultimately, and he wants to improve to get there.

“I have to keep working,” he said. “I want to get stronger. That was the big thing at camp. The players are big and they come at you fast. I feel that my hockey sense and skating were good for where I’m at right now. I want to get stronger to be able to handle the big forwards down the wing and in the front of the net.”

Houle said that Ouellet will be there at the end of the day.

“He could improve in a few areas, but mostly for him he’s got a good feel and a great work ethic,” he said. “He could use a couple tweaks but he’s already on the right path. He’ll make it.”