GATINEAU, QUEBEC: For a young player dreaming of making his mark in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, there are certain moments that stay with you forever.
For Jayden Tillman, Saturday night was one of them.
Tillman, a Fall River native, scored the first career QMJHL goal as his team picked up a 4-2 victory, turning what had already been a memorable night into a moment he says he’ll remember for the rest of his life.
And when the puck finally found the back of the net against the Rouyn Noranda Huskies on home ice, there was a mixture of relief, excitement and emotion.
“I wasn’t too sure at the start,” Tillman said during his post-game media availability answering Gatineau reporter questions. “But then when everyone celebrated, it was a big stress off me.”
The rookie admitted he was nervous when the game got underway, but as the night progressed, so did his confidence. His performance earned him second star honours.
“I’m a little nervous at the start of the game, but as I went on, I started playing well,” he said. “Getting that one in the back of the net felt really great.”
ADVERTISEMENT:
The goal was only part of an unforgettable experience for Tillman, who was also taking in the sights and sounds of playing in the QMJHL, including his rookie lap and the opportunity to skate in front of a new group of fans.
“It felt super surreal,” he said.
“I couldn’t really believe it. It was the wind in my face and everything. It’s something I will remember for the rest of my life.”
But perhaps the most meaningful part of the night came when Tillman revealed who immediately came to mind after he scored.
His mom.
“The first person I could think of was my mom,” Tillman said. “I think she’s done so much for me these past 15 years, making so many sacrifices. And for me to score that goal, that’s who I was thinking about the whole time, my mom.”
Tillman’s mom and grandmother were both in the stands for the special occasion.
He didn’t know exactly where they were sitting when he scored, so there was no planned celebration directed toward them.
But he knew they understood what the moment meant.
“I didn’t really know where they were sitting,” he said. “but they definitely knew I was thinking about them.”
ADVERTISEMENT:
The night also highlighted the chemistry Tillman is already developing with another young player on the team, Ryan White his d partner.
The two have quickly become close both on and off the ice — something Tillman believes has helped translate into their play together.
“We basically do everything together on and off the ice,” he said, joking that his teammate even drives him to the rink because Tillman can’t drive yet.
That connection was evident on the ice, where Tillman said White brings a physical presence that gets the rest of the team going.
“He brings a great physicality,” Tillman said. “I love the way he plays. He always gets the boys going.”
While Tillman will certainly remember his first goal, he was just as quick to credit the team for Saturday’s victory.
He pointed to the team’s ability to stick with its game plan and keep things simple as a major reason for the 4-2 win.
“I think what went great for us is keeping it simple,” he said. “Everyone sticking to our game plan. I think that was huge for us.”
ADVERTISEMENT:
For Tillman, though, Saturday night will always be about more than just the final score.
It was his first QMJHL goal.
It was his first QMJHL win in his debut game.
And it was a moment made even more special because of the people who helped him get there.
A nervous start gave way to confidence, the puck found the net, his teammates celebrated around him and somewhere in that celebration was a young player thinking about the sacrifices his mom had made for him over the previous 15 years.
