Guy Lesieur - Growing Up Breton [2/2]

[KC15 340]

Guy Lesieur: Marching To a Different Drum

 

 

Being French, But Breton French

Guy Lesieur was born in Quimper, France on July 14, 2001. Yes, Guy was born on Bastille Day and he is definitely a patriotic Frenchman, but he is also from the region of Bretagne in the northwest of France and that has always mattered nearly as much – as much? – more? than his being French. Back during the earlier part of the formation of the kingdom of France, the Ducs of Bretagne were as important and as powerful – really more powerful – than the “kings” of France. And they had their own language and culture. This profoundly affected Guy Lesieur even to this day as the old language of Breton has still not completely died out. The Lesieur family still speaks it to this day.

 

 

Early Schooling

In fact, Guy went to a small private school run by Breton nuns where the old language was still the main medium of education. They did learn French as well, of course, but those studies did not really begin until you got to school at age 6 and many children, like Guy spoke nothing but Breton until that time. This emphasis that the Lesieur family put on the Breton culture in a sea of majority French culture was to instill in Guy a fiercely independent streak. And a determined grit that would serve him later in life.

 

 

School and Struggles Continue

Guy did so-so in primary school and about the same in intermediate school. He liked reading and French just fine, but mathematics and science left him bored and wondering, “when am I ever going to need this”? So far, he has been right about that, but he is only 18. It wasn’t until Guy turned 13 that he learned to skate. Extremely late for someone for whom it would become a passion.

 

Hockey: A Guiding Star

But his interest in hockey helped him turn his mediocre school career into something bigger and better. When his parents saw how much skating meant to him – and soon after ice hockey – they discovered that they had found the carrot that they needed. Guy traded attention in school, diligence in completing homework, and good marks into ice time. And he improved fast! By the time Guy graduated the French equivalent of High School he was a straight A student. And an excellent hockey player.

 

Support of Family

Guy would never have developed so quickly had he not had incredibly supportive parents. When they saw that Guy really did dive into his studies and that he was an uncommonly good skater with a keen interest in ice hockey, they found him a team to play on and when that exposure seemed to be the brightest spark in young Guy’s life, they also found him private coaching. Year after year, Guy outstripped the ability of that coach to take him further and so Guy went through coach after coach on his way to young stardom. Of course, that was stardom in a smaller pond so to speak and he has far to go, but still….

 

A Favorite Uncle

While working his way through school another event would prove to have a profound effect on brining Guy to the place he is today – the eve of the VHML dispsersal draft. Unfortunately, this event was a personal tragedy. This was the death of Guy’s favorite uncle, Briac Lesieur – the brother of Guy’s father. Briac and Guy were extremely close from the moment of Guy’s birth it seemed and Briac spent a great deal of time with him. Whereas Guy’s father was somewhat taciturn and practical, Briac was a bon vivant with an extra dose of joie de vivre. Guy’s father encouraged his son as a supportive, loving father, but he always felt that hockey was just a reward that would help Guy focus on more practical matters like doing well in school. Briac on the other hand believed in following your heart’s passion wherever it led. It had taken him on all kinds of adventures in travels around the globe and the stories he told on his return enthralled young Guy.

 

Tragedy Strikes

But then the fateful day arrived and Guy’s father received an awful phone call. His brother, Briac, had had a heart attack and was in critical condition at the local hospital. The entire family raced to the scene. Briac seemed to recover at first, but as the family visited at his bedside, he had a second heart attack and soon died thereafter. But not before looking Guy in the eye and with great difficulty gasping out, “Don’t settle. Don’t give up. Play...”

A Decision Made

The family was shattered. A beloved uncle and brother had passed and a bright light had left this life. Guy mourned along with his family, but Uncle Briac’s final words to him kept ringing in his ears and settled into his bones. He turned them over and over in his mind and realize that there was no way he could ignore them. He had to chase his dream of playing professional hockey until there was no hope left – and there is always hope.

 

Next Steps

So, he went to his semi-pro team’s coach and asked what he thought the next step would be. His coach said that he must work toward playing in the world’s premiere league – The Victory Hockey League. But to do that, he would need to hone his skills in the juniors – in the VHLM. So, Guy continued to train, went to tryouts and prospect showcases, knocked on agents doors and did everything he could to get his game ready – and his name known enough – to enter the VHLM draft with some hope of finding a team willing to take a chance on a raw, speedy skating winger with a blistering slapshot.

 

The Future Arrives

And here he is today. Just three hours away from the start of the S68 VHLM Dispersal Draft hoping with every fiber of his being to hear his name called. And in the Xth round of the S68 draft, the Y Team select RW Guy Lesieur from Quimper, France.

 

Edited September 10, 2019 by KC Philip

[Greg_Di 930]

Review: Interesting Biography, I liked it. Especially the motivating words of his uncle while he was on his death bed. Good length as well. Not much to really to add to this one. Well done!

[Ricer13 2,592]

Review: One critique I have is the transition from one part of the story to the next was a little awkward in some parts. What I enjoyed was the history lesson we got in the first half of the biography. I always like learning new things about certain cultures. Also, I think tragedy in a story always makes it more personal and therefor brings out the emotion in the person reading it. Great job!