AHL: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins: An Interview With Sam Houde

September means hockey is back and training camps are in full swing. Inside The Rink started the season in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on a rainy fall day and sat down with center Sam Houde.

Houde was drafted in 2018, in the fifth round, #133 overall by the Montreal Canadiens. Houde is very quick on his feet during games. He is equipped with great play-making abilities to his teammates and is in the right place at the right time. During the 2023-2024 season, Houde played 12 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and tallied four goals with eight assists.

Junior Play

Before turning professional, Houde spent five seasons honing in on his QMJHL (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League) development. He spent all five seasons with Chicoutimi Saguenéens, earning the “A” in his fourth and “C” in his fifth season.

When transitioning from juniors into the professional ranks, players are shown what they can handle and need to work on. Houde speaks on what the transition was like for him:

I would say like the pro is different, you’re kind of by your own. In the QMJHL, you have more support. Other than that, I’d say just like the pace on the practice and like the execution. I think back in junior, we got prepared for that, so it wasn’t a big step for me. I was able to manage myself, by myself. I think it was not as big of a step for me, but we got we got prepared for that.

Playing 20-plus games a season with the same guys together over six months leads to team bonding, and inevitably friendships. Houde has played with players such as 2023 and 2024 Hershey Bears Calder Cup Champion, Hendrix Lapierre and former ECHL player Justin Ducharme.

It was really nice honestly. I was 18 and [Hendrix] Lapierre was just coming into the league at 16 and my billet and his billet were really close. I kind of had him under my shoulder, I tried to help him as much as I could. Right away, I saw he was a special kid. He’s really good. [Justin] Ducharme I played against him in minor hockey. I grew up playing against him. I know Ducharme went overseas, but I’m looking forward to see how he does there, but I’m really expecting the best from him. 

Comeback Kid

Houde is no stranger to injury and having to come back from them. In the 2023-2024 season, Houde played a total of 12 games after having worked his way into the lineup and then becoming injured.

I had shoulder surgery. I think that was the main goal for me, get my shoulder ready. Physical game, physical league. I didn’t want be weak and then coming into the league and hurt it again, so that was the main goal for me. I spent some time mentally to just like keep it there and just not get down. I think that was the the main goal for me during the summer. 

In-Game Mindset

Every player is different with plays and being in-game. Every player’s mindset is different when in-game and what they do to finish the job.

Try to stay in the game stay and in the present. Obviously sometimes you get some bad shifts and you get some good shifts. Try to build on your good shift. If it’s a bad shift, just park it and go to the next one. I just try to keep doing my job and keep being the player I am on the ice.

Summer Training

Summer isn’t a time to lay low for players. Summer means that it’s time to continue the work and continue to prepare for the next season. Every player’s summer training is different and accustomed to them.

Five days a week. We had ice on Tuesday and Thursdays, but this year was all different for me, because the first couple months I was only training in the in the gym, lots of rehab, not really like a big workload. At the end, I was doing like like I was just full workout in the gym and then go back on the ice twice a week, some some three on three games here and there.

Lesson Learned

Learning lessons is what makes a human who they are and the players better on and off the ice. Players go through transitions from juniors to pro and life comes at them at such a fast pace, that lessons are taught and learned.

I think I having a like a big mental game, it’s really like part of success of all the good players. I would say back in juniors, that was probably one of the reasons I was not as good as I wanted, but not as like I was not putting out points compared to how I was playing. I was thinking a little too much. I think now it’s helping me a lot because I try to work on that and build on that.

Strengths

Players have strengths that shine through on the ice but, more importantly, it’s what they do off the ice that holds more value.

I would say my speed and the way I see the game. Off the ice, I would say the way I am able to get the chemistry with every single guys. I’m a glue guy, having fun with anybody. It’s a big part for me to make sure everybody’s having fun together, and that will build on the ice.

3 on 3 Overtime

Building a roster is no easy task. Even harder when a team heads into OT. Houde was asked to build his three-on-three overtime lineup.

If I include myself, I would go with McDavid and Makar on my side. I would play against Crosby and Karlsson, and Matthews.

This season is a big one for Houde, who provides depth to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton lineup, along with leadership skills to provide on and off of the ice.