The Canadiens acquired a defenseman with a surprising personal connection to Martin St-Louis
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Kent Hughes and the Canadiens managed to get their hands on a very intriguing player.
The defenseman has a surprising personal connection to Martin St-Louis, and he appears to have plenty of potential.
Selected in the third round by the Montreal Canadiens this summer, Cleaves stands 6-foot-4, weighs 220 pounds, and shoots right.
According to Nick Bobrov, co-director of amateur scouting, Cleaves brings a mature defensive profile, unlike the more offensively inclined Tim Runtso, who was selected just before him.
Last year, he helped Dartmouth win the ECAC championship for the first time in program history.
Asked what may have motivated the Canadiens to select him, Cleaves had this to say:
“There’s a lot of really, really good hockey players in this organization,” Cleaves said at last month’s development camp. “There’s always some value being put on big, right-handed defencemen. I think they saw some value in that and I think that’s part of the reason why I’m here.”
– Cooper Cleaves
The other reason is more personal. Cleaves also came through the Mid-Fairfield program in Connecticut, where Martin St-Louis coached his three sons before arriving in Montreal.
Cooper Cleaves’ St-Louis family connection adds another layer to his Canadiens story
Cleaves even played high school hockey with Lucas, St-Louis’ middle son, while his brother Hank played with Ryan, the oldest son, with the Mid-Fairfield Rangers.
There’s no shortage of connections.
Asked about Lucas’ reaction when Cleaves was drafted, he replied:
“He was pretty fired up,” Cleaves said when asked about Lucas’s reaction to the Canadiens drafting him. “He was one of my favourite teammates, and your teammates are going to be pretty happy for their teammates when they have success.”
– Cooper Cleaves
The prospect will return to Dartmouth this season, with the goal of repeating as ECAC champions and going even further this year.
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics