SYDNEY, N.S. — From manning the blue-line to officiating at the professional level, Jonathan Deschamps has seen both sides of the game of hockey.
Today, the former Cape Breton Eagles defenceman is participating in the 2021 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship as one of 26 one-ice officials working the event in Edmonton.
“I just want to do a good job,” said the 24-year-old Deschamps. “I want to go out on the ice and do the best job I can do and see where it goes from there.”
The Trois-Rivières, Que., native will be one of 12 linesmen taking part in the international event.
“There are so many good officials here, the competition to get games is really good,” said Deschamps. “I plan to work hard and gain some experience while also batting for ice time.”
Deschamps has been an on-ice official for three years. He began his officiating career at the minor hockey during the 2018-19 season while playing with the University of Quebec Trois-Rivières men’s hockey program.
NO QUIT
“I didn’t want to quit the game after I had finished my university hockey,” said Deschamps. “I figured the best way to stay in the game was officiating and things went from there.”
Deschamps’ first stepped on the ice as an official at the under-13 ‘B’ level. He quickly progressed within the Hockey Quebec program. Eight months later, he was working an NHL rookie tournament.
After a strong showing at the rookie tournament, Deschamps was recruited by the American Hockey League as a lineman and worked his first professional game on Oct. 5, 2019, between the Cleveland Monsters and Laval Rocket in Laval, Que.
The game also featured former Quebec Major Junior Hockey League players Charles Hudon, Xavier Ouellet, Alexandre Alain and Maxim Lamarche, all of whom Deschamps had played against during his time in the QMJHL.
“It was awesome,” said Deschamps. “I’ve had the opportunity to travel around North American with the AHL and work games – it was pretty good and fun at the same time.”
After making his professional debut, Deschamps was asked to work the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Medicine Hat, Alta., and Swift Current, Sask. Following the tournament, he was signed full-time by the AHL.
ALL-CANADIAN
Over the course of his first pro season, Deschamps worked 50 games in the league before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the season and the Calder Cup playoffs.
Typically, the World Junior Hockey Championship would feature on-ice officials from different countries as selected by the International Ice Hockey Federation.
However, due to the pandemic, the IIHF will use all Canadian officials for the first time in the tournament’s history.
“Hockey Quebec recommended a bunch of officials to participate in the tournament and I was lucky enough to be selected,” said Deschamps.
Deschamps and the officials arrived in Alberta on Dec. 13 and were forced to self-isolate for five days within the tournament’s bubble.
In preparation for the tournament, the officials have had designed ice time as well as meetings and video sessions.
“We had meetings to set the standard for the tournament,” said Deschamps. “They were just to make sure we were all on the same page and know what to expect in situations.”
GOOD PACE
Deschamps, who prior to last week had not worked a game since last March, was on the ice for pre-competition games between the United States and Finland as well as Canada and Russia.
“The pace is really good,” said Deschamps. “All the guys were hungry to play, and both games were exciting. It was a lot of fun.”
During his playing career, Deschamps suited up for the Trois-Rivières Estacades of the Quebec Under-18 ‘AAA’ Hockey League, before being drafted in the second-round by the Sherbrooke Phoenix in 2012.
After two seasons in Sherbrooke, the six-foot-two, 212-pound Deschamps was traded to Cape Breton. He played a season-and-a-half with the Eagles, posting three goals and 19 points.
The Sydney-based Eagles later traded Deschamps to the Shawinigan Cataractes in January 2016 in a deal for forward Giovanni Fiore. He would later finish his major junior career with the team.
After 324 career games in the QMJHL, Deschamps joined the University of Quebec Trois-Rivières program and played two seasons with the team, posting seven assists in 45 contests.
The IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship began last Friday and will run until Jan. 5, 2021, at Rogers Place. As of press time, Deschamps didn’t know what games he’d be working during the event.
Following the World Juniors, Deschamps is expected to return to the AHL. However, as of now, no start date has been announced for when the league will begin play for the 2020-21 season.
- Jeremy Fraser is the sports reporter for the Cape Breton Post. Follow Jeremy on Twitter @CBPost_Jeremy.
