Quebec Remparts boss Philippe Boucher blazes new trail in shadow of Patrick Roy

Quebec Remparts coach-GM Philippe Boucher won’t even try to fill the shoes of the departed former coach and GM Patrick Roy.

“How can you compare to Patrick Roy?,” he said. “As a player, nobody could really do it. [Martin] Brodeur is trying to. They are probably the two best goalies ever. As a coach he did everything he could in junior. He’s on to new challenge and he’s proven already that he’s a NHL-calibre coach.”

Try or not, the comparison will always loom large over his back.

“I knew it [coming in] and that’s fine,” he continued. “You look at our start and you look at his start. You can’t go in there to try to be him or to compare to him. You just be yourself and do the best you can do and see what happens.”

The Remparts started the new era with a 6-5-3-1 record in the young 2013-14 season, and they’ve taken points in their last seven games. After a rough start, which the team attributes to missing players to the professional ranks, Boucher said he’s okay with the team so far.

“With so many games on the road to start the season, we were hoping at the end of this road trip to take 10-of-15 to be above .500,” he said. “Did we expect to take it on the chin a couple times at home? No, but with so many guys gone to training camp and injuries and guys in and out of the lineup, to be at .500 at the end of the trip [is] acceptable.”

By comparison, Boucher’s old team, the Rimouski Océanic, are sitting at 8-5-1-1 on the year. Boucher left the Oceanic to take over as the Remparts top dog in the summer. Boucher said the decision to leave Rimouski was a difficult one.

“It was good [in Rimouski] and I loved it,” he said. “It was my toughest decision to make in hockey and I’ve had some tough decisions before. I loved it there. I loved the team I built and the people I worked with. You build relationships there and you care about them.

“[It was about] having a chance to be a coach in my hometown and where I can be closest to my family. I like challenges and with Patrick leaving and the Remparts being what they are, it was a challenge I couldn’t pass up.”

Boucher said at first it was difficult getting used to coaching in the Q and getting used to his new co-workers, but he feels they are well connected now.

“I’ve been in hockey my whole life and I’ve been behind the bench a few times, but you don’t know how you’re going to react or how it’s going to be,” he said. “I’m settling in now. It’s new players and new staff. I’ve never worked with Lappy [Martin Lapperière] and Pierre [Sévigny] is new to the juniors, so I think we’re more in sync now and it’s more natural now than it was even a couple weeks ago.”

Lengthy NHL career helped Boucher adjust

Boucher is well versed in the pro game. The 17-year NHL veteran played for Buffalo, Los Angeles, Dallas and Pittsburgh over his lengthy career. He won his only Stanley Cup in his last game with the Penguins in 2009. That experience is a calling point for the players on his team.

“Both [Patrick and Philippe] have had very successful careers in the NHL,” said captain Ryan Culkin. “Both know a lot about the game. They’ve both influenced me in my career and they’ve both helped me with my game.”

“They’re two different styles, but they both have professional history,” added veteran Kurt Etchegary. “They both know the game really well and regardless of systems, we do make it work. Just following the systems and doing what’s put in place, if everyone follows it, we feel we can beat any team in Canada.”

It’s also allowed Boucher to have exposure to different coaches and styles, from old-school John Muckler, to new-school Dan Bylsma, to the bizarre in Barry Melrose. There’s one coach that will always stay in the mind of the first-year coach.

“No doubt, it’s Dave Tippett,” Boucher said.

Tippett coached Boucher in Dallas, and led to his most successful seasons, including an invite to the 2007 NHL All Star Game. By far, Boucher’s best offensive years came in a Star uniform, including 162 of his 300 career points.

“His relationship with his players and how he adjusted to the new style of hockey,” he continued. “How he was with us as players and how he interacted with us, that’s the guy I look up to the most.”

That relationship is something Boucher has tried to extend to his players in Quebec. He added that coaching is very different to being upstairs and having a birds-eye view of the team you’re managing.

“A little bit [different], because you’re involved,” he said. “You’re directly involved in some things on the ice. I like to let the players dictate most of the things on the ice in the game but obviously you make some of the decisions.

“I don’t think I was over Serge Beausoleil’s shoulder in Rimouski. He could do whatever he wanted with them and on the other side, he would give me input on players and trades and I could do whatever I wanted with that input. Now, having both jobs, you have more of a say, that’s for sure.”