On a cloudy Sunday afternoon after training camp, Inside The Rink, sat down with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Forward Mathieu De St. Phalle. De St. Phalle touched on college play, becoming a leader, to summer training. At this current time, De St. Phalle has been assigned to the ECHL Wheeling Nailers under the tutelage of Head Coach Derek Army.
College Play
De St. Phalle played four years at the University of Wisconsin. During his time there, he dressed in a total of 141 games. He tallied 36 goals with 51 assists.
Just play on both side of the ice, not just on offense, on defense too. I think coming out of junior you really need to learn how to play a 200 foot game. Wisconsin taught me the importance to that, not only the importance, but how to do it as well. Credit to Tony Granato and the coaches I played for there. They are really big on those things. College overall taught me the importance on playing on both sides of the puck. Wisconsin is alos such a historic hockey culture, how important the wins are there, how the locker room is there, and just being a good teammate.
While at the University of Wisconsin, De St. Phalle played with current Reading Royals Goaltender Vinnie Purpura and Forward Brock Caufield. He spoke about what it was like to play with both players during his college career.
Vinnie [Purpura] is a great guy, great teammate, unbelievable skill. Brock [Caufield], same thing, great leader. He really helped me get adjusted to Wisconsin when I was a freshman/sophomore there. They are awesome players and better people.
Covid Times
De St. Phalle entered college when the COVID pandemic was ending, but his work was still going on before that. De St. Phalle speaks on his development and what he worked on during the lockdown.
I’d say yes and no. I think everybody wanted to be in that practice and game culture. Just being locked up at home for a few months was touch. I think I was able to find ways to keep improving each day, whether it was working on my stick handling in my garage, going back to being a little kid and just finding open ice and scrimmaging with guys and really hitting the weight room hard because there was nothing else to do. I think I benefitted from it and just found way to get better during that period.
Start In Hockey
Most players start skating when they are young, De St. Phalle was no different. His parents knew from day one that he would be a hockey player.
When I was three years old, my dad threw me on skates in Florida at the time. My brother at the same time. Just how the story goes. My brother was crying, wanting to get off the ice, and I was the one wheeling around and they couldnt even drag me off. I was knocking people over and having a blast out there. They saw the big smile on my face and my eyes light up. So I think from that day on, they kind of knew I was going to be a player.
Game Day
Game day is routine for players. Some have strict routines, and some do not and follow the flow. De St. Phalle isn’t a superstitious player and talks about things he does on game day to get him in the mindset to play the game.
I eat the same breakfast, same lunch. Breakfast, just do light eggs, toast, some fruit. For lunch, I just go rice with chicken and marinara sauce and then salad and broccoli. I always tape my sticks the same way and always leave them in the same spot. I like to go up and sit in the crowd and kind of visualize myself on the ice.
Summer Training
Players oftentimes during summer training will train in groups and individually. It helps to keep the in-game mindset during the off-season and to strengthen skills.
I go to GVN in Chicago. I think they do a really good job on and off the ice. They really foucus on that development that’s gonna translate to hockey. Not just lifting weights and getting as strong as you can. i like to skate quite a bit. I’ll take a month off to let my hips recover, but once July and August hit, I like to ramp it up on the ice three to four times a week and I try to get myself in as good as shape as possible.
In-Game Mindset
Learning a player and their mindset during a game can be tricky. Some are stealthy in the way they play, some are tenacious, and some are calm. De St.Phalle speaks on his in-game mindset.
Just to make plays. Be tenacious on the forecheck, cause alot of problems for the other team just whether that is just by forechecking, making plays, or being harder at the net. I think I have a lot of creative skill in there too being able to make plays and slow the game down, and being shooter. Just really bring energy and leadership to a team.
Biggest Accomplishment
We all have accomplishments that top the charts for us, players are no different. Most are junior and college hockey accomplishments and De St. Phalle speaks on what was his.
Biggest accomplishment? I won a national championship in U-14. That was awesome with the Detroit Honeybaked. I’d say with Wisconsin, being a leader there and getting to wear Assistant Captain was pretty cool.
Build 3 on 3
De St. Phalle was asked to create his 3 on 3 overtime lineup and this is what he gave Inside The Rink
I’m gonna go Sidney Crosby, Auston Matthews, and Connor McDavid. Let’s go with Sergei Murashov in net.
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