Deslauriers: 'She's the rock of our relationship'

ANAHEIM - Hitting the road for extended trips like these isn't easy when you have young kids at home.

Nicolas Deslauriers just happens to have three of them, including four-year-old Madison, two-year-old Jaxon and three-month-old Payton.
When he's out of town, it's Deslauriers' wife, Joanie, who steps up to the plate solo to make certain everything is running smoothly back in Quebec.
The 28-year-old forward has always admired her incredible mom skills since the pair first became parents back in 2014.
"I think it's just how patient she is. She tells me a lot that she has four kids at home, not three. That's probably a good thing that she's really patient," said Deslauriers with a laugh. "She's also really organized. As a guy that likes to have fun and joke around, I'm not as organized as she is. She puts me in line and she takes care of everything."

Joanie's trademark patience goes hand-in-hand with her passion for special education.
She was on track to pursue a teaching career when she met Deslauriers while he was still plying his trade in the QMJHL ranks for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, but she ultimately set her professional aspirations aside to support him in his hockey journey.
That included relocating to Gatineau, QC where Deslauriers played his final season in the Junior ranks with the Olympiques in 2010-11 before turning pro the following year.
"When I was traded to Gatineau, she made the decision to be closer to me. Gatineau and Rouyn aren't close. She pretty much gave up everything. I remember her first job was at Quizno's so she could make a little money and help us afford our apartment. It wasn't in line with what she was doing at school," recalled Deslauriers. "She could've easily gotten a job in her hometown or anywhere else. There are a lot of kids that need some help. She could've helped a lot of people, but she chose to come with me."
The next stop for Deslauriers was Manchester, NH, and Joanie was right there by his side again as he began his AHL career.
It was a huge step for the couple, according to the six-year NHL veteran.
"When she came to live with me in Manchester, I think that's probably the turning point of our relationship," explained Deslauriers. "We'd already been together for a while and she just left everything again to support me. It's not easy. She was a teacher at an adult school before that, and she had her own class of special needs kids. She worked hard to get her education."
Deslauriers knew that Joanie would be an outstanding mother when he visited her while she was still working with youngsters.
"She loved the education she was in. I was lucky to kind of see what she was doing when I was in Rouyn my first two years. She was close to school. I would go and help her sometimes and meet those kids," mentioned Deslauriers. "It was right in her element, so having kids isn't a problem for us. She's the rock of our relationship and she's the best mom out there."
Support means everything
This season didn't get off to the start Deslauriers hoped it would.
He suffered a facial fracture during the pre-season requiring surgery that kept him out of the lineup until October 20.
Deslauriers is adamant that Joanie played an important part in his recovery and subsequent return.
"There are some rough patches when you play. Sometimes, it doesn't go the way you want. Especially for me at the beginning of the season, I had a serious injury and she was there to support me," said Deslauriers. "It was hard to come back and you don't know how your body is going to react after surgery like that. But, she always told me that I was going to be fine and everything was going to be ok."

She was right, of course, and her unwavering love and backing has always meant the world to him.
"As an athlete, you go through ups and downs. When the downs are low, she's always there to support me," said Deslauriers. "Having kids at the same time, it makes you think about something else, how life is precious. We keep in touch a lot when I'm away, we talk a lot. That's the thing. It makes our relationship stronger, especially when you have three kids."