Quebec native Samuel Asselin used to hate the Bruins & Brad Marchand - now he wants to be the next pest in Boston

For most of Samuel Asselin’s life, the Boston Bruins have been a thorn in his side. 

Growing up in the Montreal suburb of L'Assomption, Asselin was a Habs fan through and through during his childhood, with memories of playoff triumphs over the hated B’s — and the painful losses — still fresh in the now 20-year-old center’s mind. 

Now a dynamic pivot that’s proved doubters wrong through his run through the CHL, Asselin is set to take the first step in what should be a promising pro career. But if you asked the Canadiens fan years back if that first step would be while donning a black and gold sweater, he likely wouldn’t buy it.  

“I’ve always been a Habs fan,” Asselin said Wednesday at Warrior Ice Arena. “But no, it’s the first time I was wearing that black and yellow jersey, but I enjoyed it. I’m excited.”

The Bruins have good reason to be excited with Asselin’s addition to their prospect pipeline as well.

Once an overlooked, undersized center that didn’t make the cut in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) as a rookie, Asselin has seen his stock rise over the years, culminating in a league-leading, 48-goal campaign with the Halifax Mooseheads in 2018-19. 

But for a Québécois that admitted he loathed Brad Marchand when watching him at Bell Centre over the years, Asselin was quick to express his wish of following in No. 63's footsteps and becoming the next pest badgering the opposition across the ice at TD Garden in the near future.


“That’s exactly what I want,” Asselin said of playing a game that features both scoring punch and plenty of pugnacity. “That’s what (the Bruins) want me to be and that’s what I want to be. I look up to (Marchand). He’s a great player, he had 100 points. Not sure I’m going to do that, but who knows? I just want to be that pest and now I’m concentrating on the Providence Bruins and I just want to make the team and start from there.”

Asselin, who signed a two-year, one-way contract with the Providence Bruins earlier this month, is the latest in a growing crop of undrafted B’s prospects looking to carry a strong 2018-19 campaign over  into the AHL ranks this winter. 

“He’s got pace,” Providence head coach Jay Leach said. “A heady player, looks like. Looks like he really wants the puck, which is huge advantage for someone like that. Obviously a bit undersized, but doesn’t seem to be knocked off the puck too much. 

“For what I understand, he plays the game hard. He’s a gamer. He’s shown the last two days to me, there’s nothing that says he will not be successful at our level, that’s for sure. He’s been actually pretty impressive. We’re looking forward to seeing him in camp and seeing what he can bring.”

While his physical attributes might not stand out, Asselin rarely put together a quiet outing during his lone season with Halifax last season. After tallying 42 points over 48 games in 2017-18, Asselin went on a warpath with the Mooseheads — finishing the year with 86 points over 68 games.

His 48 goals were the most by a Halifax player since 1994, while his addition to the club played a key role in the Mooseheads' run to the Memorial Cup, where they eventually fell to Jakub Lauko and the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

Still, given his undrafted status and track record over his final year in the Q, Asselin attracted plenty of suitors once his junior career came to a close, including interest from his hometown Habs.

But the 5-foot-9 center ultimately opted to sign on with the Bruins after multiple discussions with Boston’s executive director of player personnel and Providence GM  John Ferguson. 

“It’s such a great organization,” Asselin said. “They’re all in all the time. We saw it again, they were just in the Stanley Cup Final. I just arrived yesterday and I can see why. It’s an organization with class and they’re there for us.

“That’s really what I wanted when I talked with Mr. Ferguson and I talked with Jaime (Langenbrunner). They see an opportunity in me and they talk to me about it so I was really excited and that’s why I chose the Bruins. I’m really excited for the next chapter.”

While he will have to adjust to the challenges that present themselves up in the AHL next season, Asselin is looking forward to training camp come September, especially if he gets a chance to pick the brains of two individuals in the B’s locker room hat he often tries to model his game after.

“I have to say Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand,” Asselin said of which players he tries to emulate. “I like to be that pest like Marchand, but I also like to be that two-way guy that coaches can throw into the play when you need a goal or when you don’t want to get scored on. I’ve got those two guys. That’s also why I came here. Those two great role models so I can take that from them and go on.”



Asselin added: “For Marchand, I used to hate him. But he’s doing such a terrific job, and now I understand the game a little bit more and I know how good he is. I love him right now. Now that I’m in the organization, it’s even better.”