He welcomed the offensive production after an adaptation period to the AHL ranks that was a little bit longer than expected.
"It's definitely another level. Before I got here, I knew that it would take some time to adapt. But, I wanted that adaptation period to be as short as possible so I could really try and get comfortable on the ice and play to the best of my abilities," admitted Alain, who boasts seven points in 15 games so far this season. "Scoring over the weekend did me some good. I think I was still playing well, but I wanted to contribute offensively. Scoring gave me some confidence. I'm not putting too much pressure on myself my first year, but it still does some good. It's special to score your first goal."
Alain was a formidable offensive threat during his years with the QMJHL's Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.
He registered 44 goals and 87 points in 65 games during his final Junior campaign.
Now, Alain would like to bring that same production to the AHL.
"I want to contribute as much as possible. My goal is to force the coach's hand to use me more often," stressed Alain. "I just want to keep on progressing as a hockey player."
After agreeing to a three-year entry-level contract with the Canadiens last April, Alain was met with some familiar faces when he joined the Rocket.
He was coached by Joël Bouchard during his final two seasons in the QMJHL, and the pair was reunited in Laval.
"There aren't any negatives about being back with Joël here. When I joined the Armada, he gave me a lot of confidence offensively. That's when I got things going. But, it's up to me to prove myself here," noted Alain. "He won't be giving me any gifts. I have to prove that I can play in this League and earn my ice time. At the end of the day, it's up to me to perform."
For his part, Bouchard is well-aware of Alain's qualities both as a player and a person, too.
He insists that Alain has been doing good things in his freshman campaign in the AHL.
"With him, it's just a matter of adapting. He knows how to play. He's a good all-around player with good skills. He's capable of playing 200 feet. He can play on the power play, on the penalty kill and at even-strength. He understands the way to play. Right now, it's an adaptation period, but he's already playing the right way," said Bouchard. "He's well-liked by the other guys because he isn't all about himself. We just have to give him time and let him play."
Education matters
Alain has never hidden the fact that his education is atop his priority list.
With a mother who teaches and a father who works as an engineer, Alain isn't just a performer at the rink, but in the classroom as well.
In May, he was presented with a Guy Lafleur Award of Excellence, an award for hockey players at the amateur level who best combine hockey performance with academic excellence.
He was also named the 2018 winner of the Marcel-Robert Trophy, which is awarded to the QMJHL's Scholastic Player of the Year.
"I've always placed a big importance on school and I always will. I'm taking university classes online [from the University of Laval]. I'm passionate about health studies," said Alain. "Blending school and hockey, it really helps me to think of something else sometimes, which is good. I developed a good work ethic in school and that really helped me in hockey."
Will he be an impact player with the Canadiens soon? Or, will he be an important contributor in the health field down the road? Regardless, the future is bright for this knowledgeable youngster.
