Breadcrumb Path Hyperlinks
SportsHockeyNHLHockey Inside OutMontreal Canadiens
Habs would love to listen to commentators speaking about opponents getting “Protzed” by a hip-check from 6-foot, 205-pound defenceman.
Article content material
Defenceman Owen Protz is a throwback in additional methods than one.
The 6-foot, 205-pound defenceman stood out on the Canadiens’ improvement camp final week in Brossard for his bodily model of play and his skill to throw some lovely hip-checks throughout the scrimmage that wrapped up the camp.
The Canadiens chosen Protz within the fourth spherical (102nd general) of final month’s NHL Draft in Las Vegas after he posted 3-16-19 totals and 49 penalty minutes in 66 video games cut up between the Sudbury Wolves and Brantford Bulldogs within the OHL.
Commercial 2
Article content material
“I used to look at some outdated VCR tapes at my cottage and it was all the old fashioned — I suppose not old style, however I’ll say extra skilled gamers,” the affable Protz stated with a smile. “It was Nineteen Fifties, Nineteen Sixties sort of old-style sort of play. I watched it about 80 occasions. My dad and mom needed to do away with it as a result of I wouldn’t go exterior generally — I’d simply watch hockey highlights. So I feel that’s the place I acquired quite a lot of my sport from, sort of watching the older model of play.
“I don’t wish to say I modelled my sport after (Scott) Stevens, however I used to look at quite a lot of Scott Stevens highlights — some fairly huge hits,” Protz added concerning the Corridor of Fame defenceman, who was nicknamed “Captain Crunch,” and gained three Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils. “(Niklas) Kronwall was at all times an enormous man rising up (with the Detroit Pink Wings). It was being ‘Kronwalled.’ Hopefully, if I get into the league I get a: ‘Right here comes Protz.’ Hopefully, it comes by (with) commentators.”
The Canadiens would love to listen to commentators sooner or later speaking about opponents getting “Protzed.”
Protz believes he can turn out to be a puck-moving, two-way defenceman for the Canadiens, whereas additionally bringing his bodily model of play.
Highway to the Cup
Article content material
Commercial 3
Article content material
“The NHL is such a quicker sport,” he stated. “It’s extra about puck-moving than physicality.”
Francis Bouillon, a Canadiens’ improvement coach and former NHL defenceman, loves what he has seen from Protz.
“I actually like that kind of defenceman,” Bouillon stated. “I noticed him quite a bit final season as a result of he was taking part in with (Florian) Xhekaj (chosen by the Canadiens within the fourth spherical of final 12 months’s draft). So each time I used to be in Brantford I used to be that man (Protz) and the scouts have been at all times asking me a couple of second opinion. I hoped we’d draft him and I used to be actually blissful once we did since you don’t actually see that anymore — that kind of defenceman who’s taking part in bodily and may play hockey, too. He’s passionate for the sport, so it’s actually enjoyable to see him play.”
It’s additionally enjoyable to speak with Protz, who has a really outgoing persona.
We apologize, however this video has didn’t load.
Play Video
Commercial 4
Article content material
It’s stunning an 18-year-old would even know what a VCR machine is. Protz’s style in music can be stunning and yet one more throwback — together with The Beatles, The Eagles and even Cat Stevens.
“A whole lot of actually sort of slower music, but it surely’s extra of what I hearken to earlier than video games — not likely as a lot pump-up,” Protz stated. “Simply sort of really feel your self, be who you wish to be.”
Protz is likely to be the one hockey participant to hearken to Stevens’s mellow Cat’s within the Cradle music to prepare for a sport.
“Among the guys aren’t too pleased with that,” Protz stated with a chuckle about his Brantford teammates. “I’ll placed on my headset or put in my earbuds and I’ll hearken to it myself.”
Commercial 5
Article content material
Protz, an Ottawa native, grew up taking part in a number of sports activities, together with volleyball, rugby and soccer. He was at all times an enormous child with an enormous urge for food and began figuring out within the fitness center six days per week when he was about 12, inspired by his father, who stated it will assist him in all sports activities.
“That’s what I like … I like being within the fitness center, love working as exhausting as I can,” Protz stated. “Hey, if I’m allowed to eat meals as a lot as I need and burn as a lot energy as I can, it at all times helps.
“I went to a daycare and so they fed me six meals a day,” he added. “I acquired breakfast on the daycare, snack, lunch. Snack, dinner. Went house and had a snack and dinner. I used to be at all times sort of an enormous child. I’m no shy man for meals.”
Protz is not any shy man in entrance of microphones and TV cameras, both. He’s a breath of recent air in a hockey world the place younger gamers — and older ones — typically converse in clichés.
Renée Racine, the Canadiens’ sport dietician, spoke with Protz and the opposite gamers at improvement camp and he was all ears.
“I’m going to be giving her a name after to ask her to assist me out with some nutritionists, however she’s superior,” Protz stated. “There’s positively a routine to it however, hey, if there’s good meals I’ll eat it.”
And if there’s a great probability to throw a hip-check, Protz will do it.
scowan@postmedia.com
x.com/StuCowan1
Beneficial from Editorial
Stu Cowan: Canadiens have excessive hopes for David Reinbacher and Ivan Demidov
Stu Cowan: Canadiens first-round choose Michael Hage good to take NCAA route
Stu Cowan: Canadiens’ Owen Beck immerses himself in class of hockey
Stu Cowan: Canadiens impressed by Jacob Fowler’s profitable perspective
Commercial 6
Article content material
Article content material
Share this text in your social community
