Growing up in Ville Degelis, Quebec, Gabriel Dumont dreamed of one day becoming a professional hockey player.  Although he was often told that his size (5’10) would hinder his chances of ever playing the game at the highest level, Dumont proved his skeptics wrong.

Drafted 70^th overall in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Entry Draft in 2006 by the Drummondville Voltigeurs, Dumont spent four seasons with the team, which played its home games just four hours from his hometown.

“Playing close to home was really good; it made a lot of things easier.  I got to see my parents often enough and I had some family in Drummondville as well so it made seeing important people very easy.”

Dumont values the time he spent in Drummondville and recalls playing with current Philadelphia Flyers star Sean Couturier during his final season with the Voltigeurs.  “I was fortunate enough to play on a line with Sean Couturier.  He really makes anyone he plays with that much better so that was great.”

During that season, in which he played 62 games, he netted 51 goals to go along with 42 assists, while also tallying 127 penalty minutes.  Dumont has always relished the physical part of hockey and discussed the aggressive style he adopted at a young age.  “The penalty minutes was just a result of how I play.  Playing physical has always been a part of my game and playing aggressive sometimes leads to you getting involved in scrums.  And being older than Sean (Couturier), I sometimes stepped in against guys that tried to take advantage of him being a younger guy.”

A successful junior career led to a dream come true for the Quebec native when in 2009, Dumont was selected by his favorite childhood team, the legendary Montreal Canadiens in the fifth round of the NHL Entry Draft.   

“I didn’t really expect to be drafted by Montreal, I had no idea that they were going to pick me but for sure it was a dream come true.  Being a French-Canadian, I always cheered for Montreal, so being drafted by them was a cherry on top of the cake.”

Dumont made his professional debut with the Hamilton Bulldogs, who at the time were the American Hockey League affiliate of the Canadiens, and during the 2011-12 season, fulfilled his childhood dream of making his NHL debut with Montreal.

This season, Dumont was named Captain of the St. John’s IceCaps, the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate, and has imparted the knowledge and experience he has gained from playing alongside a number of great leaders on the top prospects within the Canadiens organization.  

“My first year in the AHL there were a few veteran players around that I looked up to and learned from. Alex Henry was our captain that year, he was already a pro for a lot of years before I got there so it was great to see how he approached every game and gave it 110% effort every night.”

From a leadership standpoint, Dumont strongly believes actions speak louder than words in regard to how invested you are in what you moralize.  He discussed how watching players that play a similar style to him really helped his pro game evolve.

“Ryan White was a guy who I play a similar style to so it was easy for me to learn from him and see what he would do to get ready for every game.  Also just realizing what he was doing on the ice to eventually make it to the next level.”

Beyond his play on the ice, Dumont values showing his leadership in other ways.  On March 15, 2016, he and teammates Mac Bennett and Brett Lernout led the inaugural PHPA Grow With The Pros! Mentor Program in St. Johns, Newfoundland where the trio of players ran an on-ice clinic for two local minor hockey teams, and following that, led a discussion on the importance of leadership, dedication, and most importantly having fun, to the group of aspiring players.

READ: Grow with the Pros! Mentor Program (including a video re-cap of the program in action)

Dumont values giving back to the community that supports him and his teammates and enjoys taking part in programs that help inspire the next generation of hockey players.  “Its always great to go out in the community and see the kids’ eyes light up.  We got in the dressing room before the practice and the kids pointed at us and already knew our names. Then you go on the ice and pass the puck around with them, it is such a big deal to them.  Taking part in a program like Grow With The Pros is so easy for us because it is all about fun with the kids.”

Dumont experienced a similar program for himself as a young minor hockey player in Quebec.  “When I was young, just to skate with our junior team was so special, I remember it like it was yesterday.  So for the kids in St. John’s, I know how special it can be for them.  I hope that whatever it is they took away from that experience and remember is something they can cherish for a long time.”

Dumont always likes to tell young players a very intriguing bit of information about him growing up.  “It’s always cool to see kids’ reactions when we tell them we weren’t always the best players on the ice growing up but we kept going and stayed passionate.”  This speaks to how motivating kids while they are young can encourage their efforts to not only aspire to advance their hockey journey, but in facets of their everyday life as well.

The grind of a professional hockey season in the American Hockey League can be grueling, but Dumont highlights moments like the ones he shared in the discussion room as motivators to stick with it.  Speaking to the young players brought his thoughts on the game he loves back to the simple reason he loves it so much; its fun.

“I think the biggest message is to just realize that if you are passionate about the game and can just keep having fun, that is the most important thing.  Even as pros we still have fun, we are still kids.  Even if you are 25 or 30 you still have fun.  We show up to the rink every morning just like a bunch of kids and can’t wait to get out there and shoot some pucks.  If the kids remember one thing from the Grow With The Pros Program it should be to remember to have fun playing the game.”

Dumont plans on returning to his hometown in Quebec for the summer, in which he will become a free agent on July 1^st.  Regardless of where he ends up for the 2016-17 season, one thing will remain constant – Dumont will surely be engrained in the community and share his infectious love for the game with young players for years to come.

Follow Brendan Connolly on Twitter @BConnolly_