Bellemare, France hoping to ‘earn respect’ with Olympic showing

It was better for the French against Czechia. Down 2-0 after the first period, they scored three goals in the first 5:54 of the second period to take a 3-2 lead. The Czechs scored two more in the second and another two in the third to win 6-3, but it was tight all the way.

“It’s just unfortunate that a couple of mistakes there and there and there and the score looks like we were totally out of the game where actually, even if they had triple the amount of shots, it was 4-3 in the second,” Bellemare said. “You would have told me that two years ago, I would have signed a contract in no time. Once again, it’s a good lesson for us that when we do what the coach asks us to do, it doesn’t matter what level, it works.”

France lost each game with mistakes befitting their experience and talent level; mistakes that NHL players will regularly capitalize on, especially against inferior competition.

But the French will live with the mistakes in this tournament because they provide the necessary education and experience required to grow at this best-on-best level.

And that’s why playing hard, smart and mature against Canada is much bigger to French hockey than the likely result.

Essentially, what they do is more important than how they do, Bellemare said.

“This is a moment that can mold a generation,” Bellemare said. “This is the moment that can force kids to see, ‘OK, against those guys’ — because we’re never going to play against guys like this in our league in France — so this is the moment where you’re playing against the best. That’s a privilege to do that and those mistakes, if you don’t see them as a lesson, then there’s no point in playing this game that we all love so much.”

Texier needs to be the first one to learn the lessons.

As France’s only NHL player, he wears a burden that used to cloth Bellemare in French hockey circles.