HOCKEY: David Desharnais' jersey number 15 has been retired by the Chicoutimi-Saguenays

The Chicoutimi Saguenéens removed and raised the No. 15 jersey of their former captain and former Canadian player, David Desharnais, in the heights of the Georges Vezina Center on Friday.

” I'm very proud [de mon parcours avec les Saguenéens]You paved the way for my career. Desharnais said in an interview with the British newspaper “Daily Mail”: “I spent four wonderful years in Saguenay, and I formed wonderful relationships, and I still have friends there.” 5 to 7 Earlier today.

Desharnais played from 2003 to 2007 for Chicoutimi Saguenéens. The five-foot-seven, 180-pound forward scored 97, 118 and 108 points in his final three years with the team. It danglesBut he considers his first year his best memory with the team.

” [Mon plus beau moment avec l’organisation, c’était] Definitely our first year. We made it to the conference final and lost to Maxime Talbot, but no one saw us there. So the feeling of coming into the league and meeting the players and doing well was unique. »

Historical competition

To mark the retirement of David Desharnais' No. 15, the Saguenéens welcomed their old rivals, Remparts des Québec, on Friday.

For Desharnay, who is originally from Laurier Station, a municipality not far from Quebec, Chicoutimi's recruitment was certainly special.

“I found myself in Chicoutimi, who was, as I say, the number one enemy of the Remparts. I was just on the other side of the competition. Every game we played against them, especially with Patrick Roy and Richard Martel on the bench, was setting the stage for good games and good series.” .

Atypical professional career

David Desharnais had a good NHL career, despite never being drafted. The small forward scored 282 points in 524 professional games. He spent eight seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, before playing one year with the Edmonton Oilers and finishing his 10-year career with the New York Rangers.

He then continued his career in the KHL, playing one season with Avangard Omsk, then in Switzerland with Fribourg-Gotteron HC, for four years.