MontrealAlouettes.com
Back from his first-ever CFL bye week, we caught up with rising star Patrick Lavoie to find out how the pros compare to college ball, and try to get the inside scoop on how his debut CFL season’s been treating him.
So, with six games under your belt, what’s it really like being a CFL rookie?
It’s only a few games, so I still feel like a rookie, and understand that I’ve only scratched the surface. But I can sense that I’m steadily improving and starting to adjust to the speed that comes with playing in the pros. With each week, every practice and every game played, I’m able to better integrate and prepare myself to be successful. It also helps that the guys on this team have all been great and very supportive since my arrival.
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Patrick Lavoie. |
You played one year with Luc Brodeur-Jourdain when you were a rookie at the University of Laval, was he tougher on you then or now?
(laughs) No Luc has never been hard on me. He continues to be a good friend and we always kept contact before I joined the Alouettes. After his graduation, we would meet when he came down to Quebec, and reminisce about the one season we played together at Laval where we ended up winning the Vanier Cup.
What did you do with the football you caught for your first career touchdown?
Right now it’s in Quebec and I plan on having it rest on the bedside table next to my god daughter’s crib, who will be born in October.
We did the math and you were seven years old when Anthony Calvillo threw his first CFL pass, how crazy is that?
I don’t think I even knew what football was at that age, let alone be able to understand it. It’s crazy when you think of it like that. He’s still here in this league and doing well and I’m just grateful to be playing with a legend like AC.
Your first career CFL reception ending up being a touchdown. How long did it take you to score your first touchdown with Laval?
Well it certainly didn’t arrive as fast. It actually came in my second year against Bishop’s University. Benoit Groulx was the QB at the time and that was a great feeling, too.
Did you have an Alouettes jersey as a kid?
I think every kid in Quebec either has an Alouettes jersey or t-shirt growing up. I was certainly no stranger to Alouettes clothing as I had a few hats that still remain in my wardrobe to this day!
Did you have a feeling the Alouettes might draft you or was it a surprise?
Right after the evaluation camp which took place in March, I felt that the team might be interested in me. However, in the month leading up to the CFL draft, I didn’t really hear any news from them, so I wasn’t sure anymore. I was ecstatic when I got the phone call saying that I was now an Alouette, though.
How many family members did you have at that first home game against the Blue Bombers?
Wow, I know that there were a lot. (laughs) With both friends and family in attendance, I think that number was in the range of 15 if not more.
That must’ve gotten pretty pricey! Are you paying it off in installments?
(laughs) I honestly didn’t have to cough up any cash up front since my parents were the ones that covered the bill, so I got lucky there. I will have to pick up the tab next time, though.
Did you go to any of the Alouettes Grey Cup parades as a fan?
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to join in the fun since the parades took place during end of semester exams so was usually stuck with my head in the books. Either that or I was at Sainte-Flavie in Quebec, so it would have been a much longer drive.
Any personal significance to the No. 81?
It’s the number that I had during my days at Laval. I have a number of wonderful memories sporting the number 81. So when Jim Popp offered me my number, I had to jump on it. Hopefully it can bring me the same success in the CFL as it did in the CIS.
Your father Jacques is quite active on Facebook. Any chance you will join him on that front or does he officially handle the social media duties for Team Lavoie?
I think that my dad is extremely proud of his son and he’s taken that with him to social media. I’ll leave it up to him since it seems that he doesn’t need my help in that department. (laughs)
