Louick Marcotte – Photo by Jack Lima, taken at the 2015 Young Stars Classic
STOCKTON, Calif. – In January, the Calgary Flames announced the movement of their AHL affiliate to Stockton, California. The ECHL Thunder, which had been in Stockton since 2008, would move to Glens Falls, New York, and become the Adirondack Thunder, while the Adirondack Flames would become the Stockton Heat. In June 2015, the first player ever signed to the new AHL Stockton Heat on a two-way AHL-ECHL deal is 21-year-old winger Louick Marcotte.
Marcotte, a Montreal native didn’t really think much about this as a notable moment as far as the inception of California based AHL teams, other than it was a great opportunity to continue to play the game he loved.
Louick Marcotte – Photo by Jack Lima, taken at the 2015 Young Stars Classic
“To be honest I haven’t thought about it really. It’s just, for sure, something special. I just concentrate on hockey,” he said, when asked what he thought about getting into the record books for the Heat.
His boyhood was typical of many kids in Montreal. He learned to play hockey at six. He also played baseball for a time, but hockey won his heart at a young age and led him to put all of his efforts into making something of his hockey dreams.
Marcotte played the last four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) ending with the Gatineau Olympiques. He played his best season in Val-d’Or Foreurs in 2013-14, posting 42 goals and 58 assists in 67 games, helping his team to the QMJHL championship and a chance to play for the Memorial Cup. Playing in 24 post-season games, he posted 12 goals and 25 assists.
Louick Marcotte – Photo by Jack Lima
In 2014, he was ultimately traded to the Gatineau Olympiques, ending the season with 36 goals, and 40 attempts in 63 games.
Marcotte, 6’1”, 200 pounds, skated in the 2015 Young Stars Classic in Penticton, B.C. in early September with other Flames prospects. The event also included prospects from the Jets, Canucks and Oilers. During this event, he immediately realized the vast difference between QMJHL and the pros.
“I have to get used to the speed intensity. You can never stop skating. It’s very different than juniors.”
Marcotte has been spending much of his time training in the gym.
Louick Marcotte – Photo by Jack Lima, taken at the 2015 Young Stars Classic
“I am working on my strength, because the guys here are stronger. I’m also working on my speed, because the guys here are faster.” He added, “I’m working on everything.”
Based on his experiences while in Penticton, he’s looking forward to the season.
“I haven’t heard too much about Stockton,” he said of his potential home team season start. “I knew some guys that played the ECHL there. They told me about the city and how it was, so I’m excited to go there.”
The Heat are hoping he’s successful, and gets to do what he likes best in the upcoming season. As of this post, Marcotte was reassigned to Adirondack Thunder in Glens Falls. But, based on his capabilities, will likely get a chance to return to Stockton at some point this season.
“I like to shoot the puck. That’s my favorite part of the game.”
The Thunder open their season on October 16, while the Stockton Heat will play their home-opener, Saturday October 10, against the Rockford Icehogs.
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