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Recipe for Success: Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé Likes What he Sees with the Wanderers

July 12, 2021 - Canadian Premier League (CPL)
HFX Wanderers FC News Release


Halifax, N.S. - In the morning, Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé knows what he's going to eat. The self-proclaimed porridge master, according to his Twitter bio, grabs some steel-cut oats and gets to work on the recipe he's developed.

"It's just an inside joke that I have with my friends. Some of them are saying that's the only thing I eat, which is definitely not true," says midfielder Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé from Winnipeg.

As for the recipe, the midfielder starts to list off the ingredients: a mashed banana, oak milk or almond milk. But like a wise player not giving away the game plan, that's all the chef is willing to spill.

"I can't give away all the secrets here. But lots of additions that make it really creamy and sweet and good overall nutritionally," says the player from Magog, a small town 30 minutes from Sherbrooke, Que.

"It's funny I'm taking so much pride in making a good porridge recipe. It sounds so boring," says Gagnon, whose performances on the pitch at The Kickoff in Winnipeg have been anything but boring.

In his first three matches, he played every single minute, showing poise and command from the midfield while picking up Man of the Match honours in the 0-0 draw with Cavalry FC. In the game prior, against The Kickoff hosts Valour FC, Gagnon-Laparé completed 95% of his 59 passes in the 90-minute period. The porridge master knows a thing or two about what ingredients really bring a meal together and he's already impressed with what the Wanderers are cooking this season.

"The first thing that I notice is it's a group that's really together," says Gagnon-Laparé from Winnipeg. "Everyone is always supporting each other and looking for guys to be on their best game."

Although the team was held scoreless through three matches until a 2-1 win over FC Edmonton on July 10, the squad continued to show improvement without panic through a challenging early stretch. It helps that the team is all on the same page, with Gagnon-Laparé pointing out that there's a sense everyone is in this together, from the starters to players on the bench to the reserves in the stands.

The midfielder doesn't have to dig too deep to find motivation to push through adversity of any kind or to stay focused. His love of the game keeps him pushing through any obstacles that may pop up.

"It's simple, I love to play soccer. I love solving problems with a group of guys and getting to know them. That's what soccer is all about really," Gagnon-Laparé says, who values the relationships he's made with people he never would have made if he didn't play the game.

The Journey to the Wanderers

Gagnon-Laparé's professional career began in MLS with the team formerly known as Montreal Impact, playing for the U23 team before signing his first professional contract and making his debut on July 24, 2014. After three years with the club, but limited to minutes mostly with the reserve team, he took his game overseas to France with AS Vitré.

"When you're training daily with a group and you don't feel like you get to have your chance, it becomes really tough in the long run, mentally especially. So that was tricky for me to deal with, especially early on in my career," says Gagnon-Laparé of his challenging time with Montreal.

"(Playing in France) gave me the opportunity to have more minutes on the field, competitive minutes, and that really gave me a big boost going forward and I think since that time, I've been a different player than when I left Montreal," Gagnon-Laparé reflects.

After this growing experience, the midfielder returned to North America playing for two seasons with Ottawa Fury in the USL. When the Canadian club announced it was ceasing operations, Gagnon-Laparé remained in the USL for the 2020 season, playing for the now defunct Saint Louis FC in 2020. While with the Fury, he got to experience the Wanderers Grounds in their match against Halifax in the Canadian Championship.

"That's always something I remember from the time I came to play at Wanderers Grounds. The atmosphere was so nice, it was fantastic, honestly. I remember when we played, the crowd was fully behind their team. It was a tough game to play there. That's definitely something I'm looking forward to once we get back to Halifax," says Gagnon-Laparé, adding the home crowd will be a big plus for the team.

The 26-year-old brings a bevy of experience to the Wanderers. On top of time in professional leagues in three countries, he's played for the Canadian Men's National Team at various levels including five appearances with the senior team.

"It was a great experience. I got to test myself against the best players in the country at that time," says Gagnon-Laparé.

For him, this is when he realized playing at a top level was realistic. Seeing the demands that the top players put on both themselves and their teammates helped the Canadian international raise his own standards.

Bringing experience to the Wanderers

Wanderers head coach and general manager Stephen Hart highlights the mobility Gagnon-Laparé brings to the midfield with a hint we haven't seen all of his skill set yet through the early part of the season.

"His passing range is good. If we could just get him a little closer to the box, he has a tremendous shooting ability. But it's always a catch-22 because when you want to attack with so many numbers, somebody has got to be prepared to defend the potential counter attack," says Stephen Hart.

As for Gagnon-Laparé, he says on the field he's trying to bring control to the ball as it's moving from defence to the attack. And defensively, he focuses on organizing as much as he can from the midfield.

"I try to bring leadership and just my understanding of how I see the game. I try to teach that to guys around me and make sure we're all on the same page when we play," the midfield says.

Oh, and maybe teach the guys a thing or two about porridge.

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