Wolves' Desrochers is solid as a rock

Danny Desrochers carries deep scars on his face. He has been through his share of battles on the ice and it shows.

It matters little to him what happened in his last scrap for the puck along the boards or in the corners or in front of the net. All that matters is when it comes to it, Desrochers is going to fight relentlessly the next time he goes after a puck.

Bruises, gashes and insults are the souvenirs Desrochers collects from games — par for the course given his gutsy style and brash play. Many times, Desrochers simply deploys a will-versus-skill attitude.

But he pays heavily for it. He doesn’t care about that either.

“I get punished for my style, but it doesn’t bother me or affect me,” the 19-year-old said. “I actually like it to be honest.”

Desrochers is in his fourth season in the OHL. He was more of a point scorer in minor hockey, but has become a defensive presence for the Wolves in Major Junior play. Desrochers is the first guy who gets tapped by the coaching staff to lead a penalty kill. The dirty work and heavy lifting suit Desrochers just fine.

“I do what I do on the ice because that is what it takes to win pucks and games,” the 6-1, 190-pound winger said.

Desrochers’ guts over glory approach has endeared him to the coaching staff and teammates. Forward Matt Schmalz has shared a bench with Desrochers for two-and-a-half seasons and he's no longer surprised by Desrochers’ dedication and willingness to the team — but is still always amazed by it.

Schmalz points to the fight Desrochers had earlier this season against Owen Sound defenceman Jarrett Meyer, the giant 6-9, 240-pound 18-year-old.

“He is both brave and crazy for sure,” Schmalz said. “He is also one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen.

“He is the kind of guy you want as a teammate. We always tease him about being a Northern Ontario country boy who will do anything. The fight with the Owen Sound guy is something I will never forget. It shows what Danny is willing to do for the team.”

It may be a bit cliché, but Sudbury head coach Paul Fixter once said Desrochers had “the heart of a lion.”

“His compete level is off the charts,” Fixter said. “It’s contagious. He only knows how to play one way and that is with a big heart. You need players like him to set an example for others to follow.”

Desrochers’ grit rubs many — if not all — his opponents the wrong way. It’s not uncommon to see a foe give Desrochers a whack across the legs or a cross check in or after a scrum for a puck. Insults fly at him as often as checks, but he just keeps coming back harder.

“I thrive off it,” Desrochers said.

Desrochers hasn’t been drafted by an NHL team, but in that, as in his game, he just keeps driving forward.

And while he may play with all the grit he can muster, scouts see other abilities in Desrochers' play that others might miss.

“He has a higher hockey IQ than most people give him credit for,” NACS chief scout Mark Seidel said. “He is a player a lot of teams covet in this league … a great player to match up against other team’s top players.”