LEWISTON – Marc-Andre Daneau sat in the penalty box watching as his team fought off a bench minor for too many men on the ice. His hands were not cupped over his face. There was no shame because he had not done anything wrong.
Yet there he sat, alone in the box, there as a willing party when his team needed him.
The penalty box is not a normal place for this 17-year-old rookie. In 51 games this season, Daneau has four minor penalties. His one goal and eight assists combined with those four penalties mean that Daneau’ has been announced over the speakers fewer times this season (13) than any other player on the current active roster.
And he couldn’t care less.
“I am proud of my goal, and I know I need to get others,” said Daneau, “but my job is more to play defense and work hard all the time.”
It’s a role his coach can appreciate.
“He’s a kid that’s been playing with consistency, home and on the road,” said Maineiacs coach Clem Jodoin. “If he had just a little bit of hands, you know, just a little more, he could have 10 or 15 goals this year easy. He knows about it and admits it. He told me, Clem, I’ve never been a natural scorer in my life.’ But his presence on the ice, though, you can rely on it, no matter where, when how he’s still going to be there and he’s still going to do his job, and that’s the most important thing.”
After last weekend’s games, Daneau sits fourth on the Maineiacs roster in hits given, trailing only Chad Denny, Alex Bourret and Jonathan Paiement. Daneau is also tied for 10th among rookies in the league with his 71 hits.
“He’s a good checker overall,” said Jodoin. “He gives the checks, finishes checks, and position-wise, he’s always in the right place at the right time. For me, it’s a big skill that nobody sees, but is very important.”
At first, Daneau was a risk for the team coming out of training camp. He was a middle-round draft pick in the QMJHL Entry Draft, and spoke little to no English coming to Lewiston.
“I did not speak English when I came here, I had to learn it,” Daneau said in his broken dialect. “I am starting to be better. On the ice, I had to adjust, but I think it’s going well. I have no problems, really.”
According to Jodoin, the adjustment was gradual, but worth waiting for.
“The scouts sold it to me like he was a great skater,” said Jodoin. “He didn’t have the best hands but he was a good overall hockey player, and there is a good chance he has a role in the future. Next year, you will probably see a major change in his overall game. He’s going to be confident, he’s going to get better, and in my mind I think he’ll be there.”
As consistent as Daneau has been, he’s also finally playing on a line consistently. Since the return of Nick Cowan, Daneau, Cowan and Ryan Murphy spend a lot of time together on the ice.
“I like to play with Cowan and Murphy,” said Daneau. “I think we are a good line. It’s like we complete each other on the ice, with everyone doing their roles.”
Against Drummondville, the line accounted for three of the team’s five goals, and Daneau picked up his eighth assist in the win.
“I’m not the kind of coach that likes to switch the lines around too much,” said Jodoin. “I like to see them develop a chemistry between them. They know each other, they feel comfortable and they can read from each other what they are doing.”
He may not be flashy, and his name may not echo in the halls of the Colisee on a regular basis, but his drive and work ethic have made an impression where it matters most – on him and on his coaches.
“The biggest thing is we work hard,” said Daneau. “I just try to work hard every game and do the best I can at my job.”
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