2010-11 Griffiti - Issue #1

Francis Pare is determined to be a hungrier hockey player this season.

His hankering began this summer when he changed physical trainers and moved back home. He wanted to concentrate on getting his career back on a track that he hopes will bring an opportunity to play in the national Hockey league. “i had a great summer to be honest with you,” he said. “it’s always good to be home, so i went back to Montreal and stayed with my family. i kept a diet and my mom cooked all the meals. no more McDonald’s. no more beer. i was eating a lot more vegetables and lost some fat.” e result is that Pare is now leaner and, if not meaner, at least more determined than ever to succeed. He knows his contract expires aer this season and that his performance in 2010-11 will likely decide whether the red Wings show even a nibble of interest. “i worked out seriously this summer,” he said, noting that he abstained from skating while working out in the gym twice a day. “obviously i want to sign a new contract with the Wings, so i have to play my best.”

Watching what he ate was only one part of his off-season regimen, but his belt-tightening diet was a critical component in his efforts to buckle down. He even showed the willpower to avoid poutine, which are French fries topped with fresh cheese curds and covered in gravy.

Well almost.

“My favorite dish is poutine, but it’s way too fat, so i ate a lot of chicken and Caesar salad,” he said. “But there is no poutine in the states, so i had to get at least some in my body to hold me through the winter.” in pure hockey terms, Pare would be the first to admit that last season was hard to stomach. He went the first 21 games of the year without a goal. “i had never been through anything like that before,” he said. “it was unbelievable. Fortunately i learned a lot out of it and i’m ready to go this year.”

Pare knew he wasn’t the first hockey player to squeeze the stick a little too tightly in hopes of putting the biscuit in the basket, but that knowledge provides little comfort. as a natural goal scorer – he tallied 54 goals in his final junior season before turning pro in 2008 – he struggled mightily to understand what was wrong. “i was talking to my dad every single day. He told me to keep shooting, keep it simple and stay positive – just keep good thoughts in my head,” Pare said.

“When you start thinking negative stuff, that’s when you’re done. unfortunately, the negative stuff went through my head for a long time and i got away from the things that i had done the year before. i wasn’t playing my game – i was just looking for a goal.”

Griffins head coach Curt Fraser provided some necessary encouragement. “i think what happened to him was a fluke because Pare has recorded the Griffins’ best plus-minus there’s no way you can keep a player of his ability off the rating in each of the past two seasons.