Lecavalier : «J'espère que ce sera le meilleur été de ma carrière»

Corus Sports -
Bédard l'épaulera
Sur son calendrier, Lecavalier a encerclé le troisième lundi du mois de juillet - deux semaines plus tôt qu'à l'habitude -, date à laquelle il reprendra l'entraînement et amorcera un programme pour retrouver sa forme resplendissante.

«Je compte les jours!», s'est-il exclamé.

Médaille d'or en 5000 m relais sur courte piste aux Jeux olympiques d'hiver de 1998 à Nagano, puis en 2002 à Salt Lake City, le québécois Bédard accompagnera le joueur de 29 ans dans son programme intensif de conditionnement. Celui-ci comptera trois jours avec séances doubles de patin par semaine, suivi de huit séances de patin sur une période de cinq jours. Exigeant, vous dites?

«Une fois l'été terminé, et que je serai au sommet de ma forme, la confiance reviendra. Je crois que ça fera toute une différence.

Lecavalier hungry

The St. Petersburg Times reports that 29-year old centre Vincent Lecavalier, who is continually mentioned in trade rumours and is coming off a disappointing 67-point campaign, will begin his summer training regimen two weeks earlier than normal this time around. He wants to be among the NHL's elite again.

"I hope it's going to be the best summer of my career," he said. "I'm
determined to be in the best shape of my life."

And after that? "I plan on having a great season."

The article notes that he's going to be getting extra help from short-track speed skater Eric Bedard and coach Kenan Gouadec to add quickness and strength to his stride.
"I'm really anxious to start," Lecavalier said. "Once I have a great summer and I'm in great shape, the confidence comes with that. Training like this, I think it's going to pay off."

Also: Tampa Bay Lightning's Vinny Lecavalier aims to recover his spot among the NHL's elite
[...] He said rehabbing the shoulder last summer robbed him of critical workout time. As a result, "I didn't feel the explosion, the quick starts, and my feet seemed slow. I didn't feel that great during games that much. That was the thing I was most upset with."

Thus, the extra training with help from Kenan Gouadec, one of Canada's foremost short-track speed-skating coaches, and Eric Bedard, a Canadian Olympic gold medalist in short-track skating.

Hiring them has two purposes, Lecavalier said. The training program, though customized, will be similar to one used by the Canadian national speed-skating team — perfect to add quickness and strength to his stride — and a new program and new blood adds excitement.