Sam on Sports: Troy Lajeunesse
By Sam Laskaris
DOKIS FIRST NATION – Sometimes in life we have to readjust our goals.
Take Troy Lajeunesse for example.
When he was much younger, Lajeunesse, a member of Dokis First Nation in Northern Ontario, was much like any other child who was playing hockey. The dream was to grow up and play in the National Hockey League.
Lajeunesse, who is now 26, is still playing hockey; however, he realized several years ago that he wouldn’t suit up for a franchise in the world’s premier hockey circuit, so he altered his aspirations.
In part because of his frame – he’s 5-foot-9 and weighs 168 pounds – he felt he would perhaps have a better chance of earning a living as a pro hockey player in Europe where there is more of a focus on skill than size.
And now Lajeunesse is mere weeks away from commencing his first full season as a professional hockey player overseas.
Despite its historic past, chances are you’ve never heard of the squad that Lajeunesse will play for.
This past week it was announced that he had signed a contract to play for the Scotland-based Fife Flyers.
The Flyers are one of 10 squads that participate in the United Kingdom’s Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL).
Besides Scotland, this pro loop consists of clubs from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
The Flyers, established in 1938, are the oldest pro hockey squad in the U.K., and it won’t be a bad gig for Lajeunesse. A handful of minor pro franchises in the United States had expressed interest in him via his agent Nick Shackford.
Lajeunesse’s European agent Ron Newhook, was able to land him a more lucrative deal with the Fife squad.
Lajeunesse is thrilled that he will now have peace of mind for the remainder of the summer knowing where he will play during the 2023-24 season.
Had he waited until perhaps late August, there’s a good chance Lajeunesse would have been able to ink a two-way deal with a club in the American Hockey League, the top minor pro circuit on this continent. But a two-way deal would have probably also meant that he would spend a good chunk of the upcoming season, if not all of it, with an East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) team.
Though the upcoming season will mark his first full one as a professional, Lajeunesse has already had a brief taste of the pro life.
After he wrapped up his playing career with the University of Prince Edward Panthers this past March, Lajeunesse headed to Georgia where he suited up for the ECHL’s Savannah Ghost Pirates.
He appeared in 10 regular season matches with the Ghost Pirates and earned eight points, including his first two pro goals.
Besides offering him a better financial deal than he in all likelihood would have received had he stayed on this side of the Atlantic, the Flyers will provide Lajeunesse a place to stay and the use of a car.
Though his future does not include playing in NHL rinks in Toronto, New York, and Chicago, Lajeunesse is ecstatic his readjusted goal is about to become reality.