Catching up with… Jordan Weal

MONTREAL - Jordan Weal started his offseason with a new two-year contract in hand. The North Vancouver, BC native wants to build on what he started towards the end of 2018-19, where he put up four goals and 10 points in 16 games with the Habs, to start off his new deal. We caught up with the Canadiens forward to learn more about his offseason training, his summer, and his goals for the coming season.

How is your summer training going so far?JORDAN WEAL: It's been an excellent summer of training. I added some new things to my routine. I worked a lot on the way I move to make sure I'm getting around the right way. It was a long summer of training, but a good one.
Did you do any traveling during the offseason?JW: I had been spending the last few summers in Boston, so this year I really wanted to go home to North Vancouver to see my family and friends. I did some trips to Kelowna and Whistler. There are so many nice spots over there. You can get away from the city a bit and enjoy the fresh air.

What were your goals for training for the 2019-20 season?JW: Over the years, you learn what your strengths and weaknesses are. I was never the guy who could lift the heaviest weights or jump the highest, but I always took a lot of pride in having good cardio and endurance. I would say I continued with that this summer.
During the season, you use meditation to relax before a game. Have you been doing it during the offseason too?JW: Not so much. I have to give myself a mental rest in the summertime because that takes a toll on you during the season. It's not something you want to do every day, but it's something I feel helps me during the games. So definitely, when you're on game 55 or 60 it's harder to do those things and do the little things that prepare you for a game. In the summer I like to get away from all that and give my mind a rest from all the little nuances throughout the season.

What are your expectations for the 2019-20 season?JW: I'm really excited. I hope to build on the opportunity I had at the end of last season, both personally and for the team. We played some good hockey at the end of the season and it was disappointing we didn't get to keep going. I would say all the guys probably trained this summer with that bitter taste. We want to pick up where we left off. It's really exciting, because we accomplished some great things with a very young group. We're going to keep going and it should be fun.