This is Mathieu Brodeur: He is a big teddy bear.

Mathieu Brodeur is a rookie defenceman who plays for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. He was drafted 76th overall by the phoenix Coyotes. People like Mathieu because he is big, and you never miss him when he is on the ice - this is because he is big. Big boys are fun. Also, he is adorable (when he is not growing a playoff moustache). Check out his profile on the Screaming Eagles homepage.



This season Mathieu played more of a stay-at-home type of defensive role, and we are fine with that because stay-at-home defencemen are the loveliest, strapingest, scrappiest of things. Better yet is the fact that he is not prone to taking dumb penalties. Mathieu played 69 of 70 regular season games this year and had 1 goal, 6 assists and only 27 penalty minutes.

Ugh, that one goal will kill us all. It is the bain of my sweet P-O Pelletier's existence. We (the Mooseheads) were in a 12 round overtime shootout with the Screaming Eagles when, who of all people, gets the game winning goal - Brodeur. I should hate him for that and that alone...but I cannot. He is big, he does not take dumb penalties, he is not afraid of crying in public, and his name is Brodeur* - I can not think of four more valid reasons to like a guy.


*no, he is not related to Marty.

Combine updates

According to NHL.com there are 35 skaters and 7 goalies from the QMJHL listed for the the 2008 draft. Mathieu Brodeur, a defenseman and otherwise sweet-little-big-thing from the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles is listed at #69 overall, while Joel Champagne a centreman from Chicoutimi is listed at #73.

According to TSN, here is how the boys are faring at this weekend's NHL combine:

"Mathieu Brodeur of Cape Breton also looked like he was here to try out for the Raptors. Brodeur and Myers almost hit the top of the vertical jumping apparatus."

"In the third group, Joel Champagne of Chicoutimi looked good physically. His body-type would project well at the pro level."


Also, isn't this just too kind and totally awesome for the Kitchener players- "Mikkel Boedker (ranked 11th by CSB) was missing from the seventh workout group. He is in the Bahamas on a vacation with the rest of the Kitchener Rangers. They were apparently rewarded with the trip by the team owner after winning the OHL title and reaching the Memorial Cup final."