Around this time last year, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare was preparing for a professional tryout with the Avalanche — one that was unsuccessful in earning a contract.
The now 40-year-old center did an admirable job in training cap but was unable to earn a roster spot. Instead, he spent the 2024-25 season in Europe and went on to play his 12th IIHF World Championships with Team France just a few months ago.
With France solidifying a spot at the upcoming Milano Cortina games, Bellemare, who will captain the team, has an opportunity to realize a dream he thought was dead in 2022.
He gets to play at the Winter Olympics.
France has not qualified for the Olympics since 2002, which was right before Bellemare began his professional hockey career. He is the first known captain of the 12 nations.
This couldn’t happen to a better guy. Bellemare was a stand-up personality when he played for the Avs from 2019-2021. He was also a key piece of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s veteran fourth line alongside Corey Perry and Patrick Maroon in 2022 when they lost to Colorado in the Stanley Cup Final.
Last year, Bellemare didn’t make the team out of camp and probably should have. He could’ve given the Avs much-needed bottom-six depth in the first half of the season, when they were starving for healthy bodies with NHL experience.
But that didn’t stop him from being his usual joyful self in the locker room. He was great with the younger players and had a positive attitude all throughout.
I’m excited for him to get this opportunity.
Fun quote from Bellemare recalling the 2022 Stanley Cup Final when he was with Tampa Bay pic.twitter.com/EY3WoCRp34
— Aarif Deen (@runwriteAarif) September 19, 2024
