It’s been a rollercoaster introduction to the EIHL for Belfast Giants goaltender Alexis Gravel. From starting the team’s opening game in the Champions Hockey League to a run of games backing up Jackson Whistle before re-establishing himself in recent weeks with a string of strong performances in net.
That resurgence started in mid-November as the Belfast Giants fell behind against a rampaging Manchester Storm team when, in the second period, head coach Adam Keefe calls a time-out and pulls Whistle, sending Gravel into the fray with his team already 3-0 down. “It’s always tough to go into a game like that” Alexis remarks, “but the team limited the shots on me and once the game got going it felt good”. It went well too, with the Giants rallying to finish 6-3, and even though they lost the next night it was a reminder of why fans were so excited when Gravel signed for the team.
It’s the curse of the goalie to have to sit and watch several games through the season and I’m always curious at how players stay motivated. For Gravel it seems to come easily, and he speaks with a lot of passion about his role. “It’s easy for me to stay motivated. I’m being paid to play a sport I love. This isn’t work, it’s fun!” That mindset helps him to stay focused even when he’s not in the matchday squad. “Sometimes when Jackson starts the coach needs to play another homegrown goalie on the bench so he can ice more imports. I understand that and it allows me to sit up in the stands and really watch the game, see how other teams play and learn about opposition. Of course, I’d prefer to be playing but I will do what the coach needs and what helps the team. It’s a great group of players and I want to do everything I can to help us.”
Alexis was born in Germany but, despite some time playing for Adler Mannheim, he doesn’t qualify for the Träger der Adler as he hasn’t spent enough time living there, though during our conversation he hints at an urge to chase the opportunity to play for his home nation in the future, as his father Francois did when he turned out for France in the 1998 Olympics. Gravel grew up in Quebec and is part of an unusually high Quebecois contingent on this year’s Giants team, along with Nicolas Guay and Karl Boudrias, two players he faced during his time in juniors. “It’s nice having those guys here, being able to switch off a bit and speak French” he tells me. “We don’t do it in front of the team, we want to speak English there and be part of the room, but it’s a nice change when we are relaxing.”
In a game full of ever more intricate goalkeeper masks, Alexis’ clean and simple helmet has caught the eye during his time on ice this season. “When I knew I was coming to Belfast I started thinking about what design I wanted. I really like the club’s logo so I asked my designer if he could work with that. I think he kind of liked not having to do too much painting, but I really like the result.” It certainly stands out and, to this writer at least, shows that Gravel is fully focused on his current team.
Before I let him go about his day, I have to ask how Alexis is finding his time in Belfast. “It’s a great city” he tells me enthusiastically, “it reminds me a lot of Halifax (Nova Scotia), where I played Major Juniors. It’s so compact but full of things to do and the people here are fantastic. The set up we have is great too, and the SSE Arena is always a brilliant place to play.”
The Giants head to Manchester tonight to take on the Storm. Gravel will, no doubt, be hoping to inspire his teammates to another victory, whether he’s on the ice or watching on.
