This season, David Fournier and the Trenton Golden Hawks are determined to secure the Buckland Cup.
His confidence in the Golden Hawks this season is unsurprising given their strong start. Trenton currently leads the Eastern Conference with a .806 winning percentage and are nationally recognized in the CJHL Top 20 Rankings.
Despite this accolades, Fournier remains focused on winning in the postseason.
"It’s always good to see that our efforts are not going unnoticed," he said. "But at this point of the year, it doesn’t really mean anything. It depends on where we are at the end of the year, and that’s what we’re aiming for."
His drive to bring home the championship is fuelled by the frustration of falling just short in back-to-back OJHL finals over the past two seasons. However, Fournier believes this year’s group has the potential to push through.
"Obviously it’s frustrating," he said. "But I think this year we have a group that can hopefully get over the hump. Last year we were two wins away, so I feel this time will be good."
To prepare for the physicality of another long season, Fournier has dedicated his summer to offseason training, working with his long-time strength and conditioning coach Guillaume Groulx in his hometown of Blainville, Quebec.
Although not the biggest player at 5-foot-8, Fournier has focused on building his strength and size.
"Obviously, going to the finals, it’s not a long summer, but we try to maximize the time we have," he said. "Putting weight on has been massive for me. I’ve added 20 pounds over the last two years, and I think it’s showing in my game. I feel stronger, ready to go against bigger guys, and I think that’s a big part of my game now."
The right-handed centreman’s offseason training has led to results, as Fournier currently leads the Golden Hawks in scoring with 30 points in 18 games.
Returning to Trenton for his over-age season, Fournier's connection to the Amodeo family, along with his trust in head coach Derek Smith and the organization made staying an easy decision.
"I think just stability and being back where I feel comfortable," he said. "I had a few options over the summer, but I ended up coming back. My billets are a big part of why I stayed. I trust everyone here, the coaching staff, Chris McLean, and Leah Tofflemire. I knew coming back was the right choice."
Now, the only question that remains for Fournier is whether his perseverance and hard work will help lead to a championship.
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