Dominic Cormier grew up with an unparalleled love and passion for the game of hockey.
Cormier realized from a young age he would have to make sacrifices in order to live out his hockey dreams.
Dominic Cormier’s hockey dreams have come true.
The twenty two year old Moncton, New Brunswick product signed his first pro contract with the Reading Royals of the ECHL today.
“I’m really excited,” Cormier said.
“The Royals and I have been in contact a lot over the summer and it was exciting for me to finally put pen to paper.”
“It was nerve racking and it was a tough decisions all the way through, but I’m going to stand by my decision and give it all I have and hopefully within the next couple of years hopefully get another contract and keep the dream alive,” Cormier said proudly.
Cormier decision to leave the Ottawa Gee Gee’s program after only one season wasn’t taken lightly.
“From day one once I signed the University of Ottawa was good for my studies,” Cormier said.
Going to university for at least one year was important to me to get ahead in my studies. I’ve always been someone that schooling was important, from going to down south at a young age really prioritizing school over hockey was
important for me for at least one year.”
“The hockey program there had restarted a few years back with the Gee Gee’s, we seventeen fourth year guys, those guys were all moving on and the recruiting class coming in was great to with a lot of major junior guys coming in.”
Cormier believes the Gee Gee’s program will undoubtedly be one of the best in the OUA for quite sometime.
“The program keeps going upward every year and I wouldn’t be surprised within one or two years if not already, you will be hearing the University of Ottawa is the top program in the OUA.”
Cormier and Gee Gee’s lost in heartbreaking fashion with a triple overtime loss in the OUA final, but secured a birth at Nationals.
The horrific COVID-19 pandemic ruined the Gee Gee’s chances at making a run at National Championship.
“It’s too bad we couldn’t get a couple of games,” Cormier said of the National Championship.
“We would have surprised a lot of people there,” Cormier said confidently.
Cormier’s non linear journey in the game and path to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League all started with the unimaginable decision to leave home and the country at only fourteen.
“Leaving at such a young age was for sure not easy, it helped me mature much sooner and taught me to take care of myself at a very young age,” explained the soft-spoken puck moving defencemen.
Cormier had a stellar four year career in the QMJHL with stops in Rimouski and Victoriaville.
The speedy and elusive offensively minded defender played a pivotal role on and off the ice, but more importantly in the community in his time in the QMJHL.
Cormier’s progression as a player and person shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Simply put, Dominic Cormier is a pro.
He plays the game the right way every time his steps on the ice and does whatever it takes to help his team win.
You can win a lot of hockey games with a player like that in your lineup, but you can win the games that will matter most with a player of his character, maturity and drive.
Did Cormier think that the pro opportunity would come this fast?
“Obviously, growing up as a young kid your dream is always to play pro,” Cormier said.
“After my overage year in junior not much was going on,” admitted Cormier and the prospect of playing pro.
“I was more focused on the school route and getting my four or five years in and seeing what opportunities I had after, but with this season I had last year, I gained some traction and for me like any kid with a pro contract in front of you, it’s hard to say no,” Cormier said.
Cormier is quick to credit his parents and all of his coaches along the way that helped him get to this point of his career.
“My parents have been the biggest part of all of this.”
“Leaving home at such a young age to go to pursue my dreams not only in school, but on the ice was huge.”
“It was a sacrifice for my entire family, not just me leaving, it was a sacrifice for them. It took a lot of hours, a lot time, and a lot money was spent for me to pursue my dreams,” said a reflective Cormier.
“All the coaches from both of my coaches in prep school to any summer coaches I had, to Serge Beausoleil in Rimouski and Louis Robitaille in Victo.”
“Serge and Louis took me to another level, they let me grow and become the player I am.”
“Patrick Grandmaitre with the Gee Gee’s is a great coach.”
“He brought me to the next level,” explained Cormier.
“I wouldn’t be signing today if it wasn’t for all for those coaches,” Cormier said proudly.
Dom is a tremendous skater and puck mover,” Grandmaitre said.
“He was an important member of our championship run that fell just short.”
“We wish him all the best,” added Grandmaitre.
The kid from the Hub City always dreamed big.
Cormier never feared the space between his dreams and reality.
His unwavering passion for the game and desire to be the best continues to take him to new levels within the game.
The young rearguard is quick to offer up advice for future players that were in his position nearing the end of their junior careers.
“Just because you don’t get an offer at twenty doesn’t mean it’s over.”
“It’s never over.”
“University hockey has come a long way, it’s a really good league.”
“Never stop working and training hard in the summer and after one season or four seasons you never know what will happen, you may start opening some eyes and get some chances,” explained Cormier.
Dominic Cormier will be living out his hockey dreams this fall in Reading, Pennsylvania.
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