Methot led a PWHL Ottawa practice this week on body-checking, which is banned at the formative levels of women's hockey, but not the PWHL.
Since their first game in January, the PWHL has been garnering attention, plaudits and many fans. One of those fans is former Ottawa Senator Marc Methot, who stopped by PWHL Ottawa practice on Tuesday.
Methot was invited by PWHL Ottawa goalie coach, Pierre Groulx, who knew Methot when they were both with the Senators. Methot was tasked with facilitating a body-checking session for PWHL Ottawa players, who have only begun body-checking this season because junior and college women’s hockey bans it.
“I was teaching contact and how to absorb hits and protect yourself,” said Methot. “Because you're talking to pros – like, I'm not talking to a bunch of kids – so with the girls, they already kind of know all this stuff. I think it's just getting reps in and maybe having somebody come in that's been there and done it before too.”
As a joke, Methot playfully showed Daryl Watts and Emma Buckles how to fight and then demonstrated his patented hip check to the group.
“That's definitely illegal,” said Buckles. “But if it ever becomes legal, I was picking his brain over that and getting super low. I gotta get that hip mobility going a little bit more to be able to effectively hit that way.”
In the meantime, Methot's most meaningful takeaway was the great atmosphere surrounding the team.
“My biggest takeaway was just the attitude,” said Methot. “Like what a difference. And I don't like making comparisons, but like all of them were asking questions. They had humility, all of them just wanted to learn and get better and it was just a good positive vibe here. I'm happy I came out.”
For Gabbie Hughes, he reminded her of family.
“It was really fun,” said Hughes. “He reminded me of my older brothers. They would come out with me and coach me all the time when I was younger, and he was just a very genuine.”
Many players described learning some new tricks from Methot.
“The biggest takeaway was absorbing a hit and how to take that properly,” said Hughes. “I think a lot of times we get so worried since there hasn't been hitting in our sport for so long. We don't want to get pinned up against the boards, but he said, 'It's how you embrace the hit.'”
Many former NHLers tend to want to teach their kids to become hockey players. For Methot, it’s clear what he wants for his daughter, Ivy.
"My daughter doesn't have to watch the NHL games, she can watch the PWHL,” said Methot. "My goal is to get her to play in this league. So, I'm going to do everything I can to make that happen."
Methot, who's also a TSN analyst on Sens' broadcasts, was asked if he’d like to coach.
“It's time consuming. And I like to put the focus on my own children,” said Methot.
“That's why you don't see a lot of NHL guys getting into it until maybe their kids are in their teens or a little older. Maybe in a few years. But right now, again, my focus is on my kids.”
Still, don't be surprised if you see Methot coaching PWHL Ottawa many more times in the future.
“I'm gonna come back out if they're going to have me, I'd love to come out,” said Methot. “And it sounds like the coaches want me to come out with the full squads here. So yeah, you'll probably see me around here in the next few weeks.”