Catching up with… Will Bitten

MONTREAL - Canadiens hopeful Will Bitten has had quite the year, capping off a point-per-game season with an NHL contract, an OHL championship, and a berth in the 100th edition of the Memorial Cup tournament. We caught up with the 19-year-old forward just prior to his quest for CHL supremacy to find out about the day he signed his contract and his connections to Montreal.

Take us back to the day you signed with the Canadiens.Will Bitten: My agent, Serge Paillé, and Montreal were negotiating the contract. It was pretty funny, I had a game that day and it got done before my game. I was at home with my billets. I'm lucky enough to live with my uncle, who are my billets, technically. The deal got done right before my game, so I had to rush and get it all signed. I was with my uncle and my cousin. It was a pretty special moment - for sure one of the best days of my life.

You must've heard from a lot of people after the news broke?WB: It was crazy; my phone blew up… social media. I know a lot of family and friends were trying to reach out to me. It was pretty cool. I had a game that night, so everyone at the rink was trying to ask me questions. I couldn't even call my parents real quick, I was in such a rush to get it all signed and get ready for my big game. It was pretty special. I've had a really good year, and it feels pretty good.
Did they announce anything during the game?WB: I think so. I think they put it on the jumbo. I know all the fans knew, and all my teammates congratulated me before the game. It was a pretty special moment for me.

Have you thought about what you'll be doing next season?WB: I haven't really thought about anything, just taking one day at a time. This is my last year in the OHL. I want to finish it off right, win a Memorial Cup with my teammates. But it's going to be a long summer for me, I'm going to train really hard. I'm moving on to pro next year, either Laval or Montreal. I know it's going to be tough, but you never know.

You and Victor Mete go way back. Have you two been in touch since he joined the Canadiens?WB: I've known him since I'm little, playing summer hockey against him or with him. We won a gold medal together at the Ivan Hlinka [Memorial Tournament] for Team Canada, which was pretty cool. I got to play him in Allstate [All-Canadians Mentorship Camp] when we were younger; that was a really cool hockey game, the best players in Canada. I played against him when he was a Junior Canadien and I played for the Ottawa Junior 67's when I was younger. We're pretty good friends; I've known him for a long time now, and just texted him saying, 'How was your season?' and see how he was doing. That was a pretty special thing he did, playing in the NHL this year, and also winning the World Juniors. I'm really happy for him.
What are you most looking forward to about playing in the Montreal area?WB: Montreal has been my favorite team growing up. It's pretty special getting drafted by your favorite team. My first language is French; I have a lot of family that lives in Montreal. It's pretty special. Last summer I lived in Montreal to work out with guys like Paul Byron, Shea Weber, [Brendan] Gallagher and [Alexei] Emelin, when he was still there… those are pretty cool guys to work out with. I'll just take it one day at a time, and we'll see where it's going to take me.
Did you socialize with those guys outside of your workouts?WB: When we work out, it's pretty serious. I worked out in Brossard with them at their practice facility. When I was done, Tomas Plekanec took me out for lunch a couple of times. I know Byron lives close to Ottawa, and I'm from Ottawa, too. It was pretty cool, just to see their work ethic and what they do every day to put in the work.