Joyce Beauchamp
Special to the Tribune
André Mondoux began skating on his backyard rink at the age of 4. He seemed to enjoy it, so his parents, Paul Mondoux and Josée Bazinet-Mondoux, signed him up to play minor league hockey with the West Nipissing Sting. A passion was born and after years of dedication to the sport he loves, the now 17-year old defenceman has skated his way to the elite Ontario Hockey League (OHL), signing with the Kingston Frontenacs on December 20.
There were many steps along the way, with André moving up the echelons and gaining more and more skill and experience. He eventually graduated from the Sting to the North Bay Trappers and the Toronto Titans. The thrill of the game and the thrill of a win sealed in him a determination to make professional hockey his goal, never balking at the hard work and sacrifice: getting up early, doing daily workouts in the gym and on the ice, taking constant advice from coaches, doing homework every night, even on the bus, and repeating it the next day.
If that were the extent of the sacrifice, more young athletes would make it to the OHL. It actually takes more than sacrifice. It takes natural ability, a cheerful willingness to do it all, an appreciation for the coach’s constructive criticism, and gratitude for the opportunity. His mom Josée says, “He knows he is fortunate and he appreciates all the support.”
Two years ago, André started playing with the Toronto Titans in the Greater Toronto Hockey League. Last year he moved to the Pickering Panthers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, where his head coach was Rob Pearson, formerly a right wing with the Toronto Maple Leafs. This fall André turned some heads with the style of his game. He had also grown to 6’4” and 205 pounds, all muscle.
In December, André was called up by the Kingston Frontenacs to do some practices with them to see if he fit their profile. Evidently, he impressed them, and the big announcement came on December 20: “The Frontenacs are proud to announce the signing of defenceman André Mondoux to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. André will wear #25 and will be in the lineup tonight when we take on the [Peterborough] Petes! Welcome to Kingston, André!” The Kingston Frontenacs won that game 4-1.
“André has been working hard on his development and has earned this opportunity,” said Frontenacs General Manager Kory Cooper. “He plays a physical game with controlled aggression, and we expect him to continue doing that with the Frontenacs. His size and skating ability pair nicely with our team identity and he adds additional depth to our defensive group.” Cooper continued, “We hope to see consistent growth from our prospects, and André has shown that during his time in Pickering. That, combined with a strong work ethic has got him to this point, and we think he is ready for the next challenge.”