Tristan Gravenor and Emrick Paradis travelled from Quebec to Manitoba in September to test their chops against junior hockey talent in the province. The two players have found a place on the roster in Portage, each getting into action in the early going of the regular season.
Gravenor hails from Montréal and says the adjustment has gone pretty well.
"It's been pretty easy actually; it's been a pretty smooth transition so far. It's actually not my first time living away from home; last year I was in Victoria, BC. So, I got pretty familiar with living alone and being a little more independent. So, that's been pretty easy for me. And of course, the billets have been amazing. I've been pretty lucky with my billet situation so far, they've made me feel like home, it's been really good so far, and the boys have been really nice, really welcoming."
Gravenor added that the community is quite a bit different from his hometown, but notes that there are some endearing qualities about the small city.
"It's great, the community is awesome. Obviously, moving from a big town like Montréal to a little one like Portage, it's great, the environment is very peaceful, and everyone is so friendly. All the fans are just amazing, they're into the team."
Emrick Paradis, a product of Terrebonne, Quebec, had a bit of prior knowledge of the city through a contact from his hometown, Gabriel Laflamme.
"I played against him, two years ago. Nice guy, nice player. So, I talked to him this summer about Portage, because I knew I was coming here, and I knew he was playing there, so he was saying nothing but good things about this place."
He comments how his start in Portage has been.
"Honestly, really good, except the language barrier sometimes. Coming from a French family, speaking English all the time is kind of difficult for me sometimes, but honestly, people have been so great to me, and I really like this place."
The two young men are also joined by Adam Belzil from Lévis, Quebec, but he was otherwise occupied at the time of the interviews.