Family ties and determination power Phantoms' GendronTheAHL.com

By: Connor Lawrence | AHL Rhythm

It was a night in late November when someone asked the Lehigh Valley Phantoms forward a simple question. Alexis Gendron.

“When did you know you wanted to play professional hockey?”

“I've always known that,” the speedy 20-year-old Philadelphia Flyers rookie explained with a laugh while talking to a group of junior hockey players.

In sharing the story of his career, Gendron reflected on his own experiences growing up in the sport and one of the people he believes prepared him best: his father. as son Martin Gendron – Current amateur scout for the Quebec Flyers and former AHL All-Star winger – Alexis discovered her love for the game at an early age.

“Of course, I've always respected him as a hockey player and as a father,” Alexis said. “He plays the game the same way I do. He's an offensive forward and a small forward. When I was young, he showed me how to shoot and always told me to shoot hard.

Now in his first full pro season with the Phantoms, Gendron still vividly remembers spending countless hours in the driveway perfecting his shot with his father by his side.

“There's no doubt he played a big role in my career,” Gendron said.

Raised in Mont Lac, Que., but born in Switzerland while Martin was playing overseas, Alexis developed a love for hockey early on and hopes to one day follow in his father's footsteps.

When he started playing junior hockey at age 16, he began to believe that a professional career was just around the corner.

“I didn't expect to join this team,” Gendron recalled of his first year with Blainville-Boisbriand of the QMJHL. “It was a little surprising, but it made me realize it could happen. I just kept working. Two years later, I was drafted by the Flyers.

After scoring 60 points in his first two junior seasons, his hard work finally paid off on July 8, 2022, when Philadelphia selected him in the seventh round of the NHL draft in Montreal — just an hour from his hometown. distance.

The moment comes full circle, as it also means he'll be partially reunited with his childhood hero, who now works for the same organization – his father.

But the past year's career hasn't necessarily been that simple for the young Gendron, who has experienced and overcome his fair share of setbacks before finally earning a stable spot in Lehigh Valley.

After making his professional debut with the Phantoms early last season and recording seven points in 17 games, Gendron quickly found himself in and out of the lineup, returning to the QMJHL in January for his final year of eligibility. Just a month after joining Drummondville, he faced another obstacle when he suffered a broken ankle that would sideline him for much of the regular season.

Despite the injury, Gendron returned to the lineup in time for the playoffs and scored a hat trick in Game 1 of the series finale to help the team win the league title and advance to the Memorial Cup Championship.

“This year has been a crazy rollercoaster,” Gendron admits. “Starting from this year [in Lehigh Valley] Even though I don’t play much, I can still play in the youth category. It’s been a fun year, having the opportunity to play in the Memorial Cup and learning a lot.

Now back in Lehigh Valley, Gendron has embraced the challenges that come with maturing and adapting to the professional game.

“Starting in third grade, I really needed to work on my defense,” he said. “I think things have gotten better. I just want to be the best 200-foot player I can be and everything is going in the right direction now.

Offensively, he took full advantage of his speed and lethal shooting throughout the first half of the season and demonstrated his goal-scoring ability on multiple occasions.

“He's very coachable, he wants to learn, he wants to get better,” the Phantoms head coach said Ian Laperriere. “He's making huge progress. He's a goalscorer and he wants to score every night.

Gendron draws inspiration from his teammates, especially the veteran forward, a Quebec native Anthony Richard – players whose style he hopes to emulate on the ice.

“When I was younger, one of my coaches told me to watch Anthony Richard on the Internet because we were similar players,” Gendron shared. “So playing with him now, it's a fun story trying to learn from him. He's a mature player. He can still skate, can attack and defend. I'm just trying to learn from him and be that kind of player.

Off the field, Gendron emphasized the importance of giving back to local young players who aspire to one day reach the same level.

“It's always a pleasure interacting with the kids,” he said. “I looked up to the pros and junior players when I was their age. It was always fun.

As Gendron continues to develop his skills at Lehigh Valley and into the NHL with the Flyers, his drive, determination and confidence have remained unaffected by the adversity he has faced so far in his blossoming career.

“Right now, it's a dream to be a professional footballer, but that's just the beginning.”