- Showtime a écrit:
- Shoumi,y'arrive quoi avec Mayrand?Sorel,c'est fini ou bien il se laisse tenter(pour avoir plus de cash)????
je sait pas si tu est bilingue, mais je te laisse la parution du 4avril
ce texte est tiré du National Post de Toronto daté du 4 avril 2006
Hockey enforcer may drop gloves for good
After years of trying to star fires under his team, hockey enforcer Dean Mayrand wants to put them out.
Mayrand, who won the controversial Hockey Enforcers event last August in Prince George, B.C., has likely thrown the last punch of his seven-year minor pro career.
The six-foot-three, 250-pound Mayrand, who is playing for Mission Sorel Tracy of Quebec's North American Professional Hockey League, is leaning towards returning to Windsor and applying to become a firefighter after the season ends.
"It's been a tough year with my hand," says the 28-year-old Mayrand, who is sidelined with a broken right hand. "That's my money hand.
"As you get older, you get tired of feeling so sore in the morning."
Mostly, though, the hockey tough guy has a soft spot for his girlfriend and young daughter who remained in the Windsor area during the season for the first time.
After becoming a father two years ago, Mayrand says his job has become more challenging.
"When you're young and full of pi--and vinegar, you looked forward to the challenge," Mayrand says. "But once you have a family, you're not so selfish anymore. I worry about being there for my family. You don't want to get hurt doing this."
While the event made government officials uncomfortable, Mayrand says he isn't ashamed of his participation.
"I'm proud of winning that event," says Mayrand, who picked up $62,000 for beating Mike Sgroi (Syracuse, AHL) in the final.
"I have no problem with being called a goon. Let's be honest, that's what we all are,"
Upon returning to the NAPHL this season, Mayrand expected to have to face a never-ending line of young guns looking to build their reputation against him.
His title as the king of hockey pugilists in a ligue noted for its toughness hasn't made his life a living hell this season.
"I've gotten mostly positive feedback," says Mayrand, who is also thinking of dabbling in pro boxing.
"I thought the younger guys would come after me, but my life hasn't been any harder than normal.
"It's a difficult job, but I played with my own head and I understand this is my job. I know I'll have to fight their two toughest guys each game."
Though that routine can be a terrible mental grind, Mayrand has enjoyed playing in Quebec the last four seasons.
"You get to bump into guys from other teams in this league," he says. "It's amazing how we're all from the same mold.
"My best friends in this league, I've fought with and will fight again."
Though he's almost positive he'll retire after this season, Mayrand is hoping to return before the end of the playoffs to get one final taste of the action.
If not, he'll be happy to enter any future Hockey Enforcer tournament to defend his title.
"For sure I'd enter again," Mayrand says. "The money is too good,"
BY Dave Waddell
Portail 
Jeu 27 Juil - 9:58:34
