OJS Player Profile: Adrien Bisson

by Tim Morris

Ottawa Junior Senator Adrien Bisson knows what the team is expecting from him this season.

“Obviously as a veteran and assistant captain, my role this year is huge,” said the 19-year-old defenseman, who is in his third year with the club. “On the ice I need to lead by example and make sure I’m playing 100 percent every night because I’m relied upon to play against top players every night.”

At 6-2, 165, the native of Cornwall, Ontario is a pure shut down defenseman whose physical play sets the tone for the defense-first team. Last year the Junior Senators allowed less than two goals a game during the regular season in winning the Central Canada Junior Hockey League’s Yzerman Division title with Bisson setting the tone.

“My main focus is to be the most complete defenseman in the league and that mentality is really because of the Junior Senators’ coaching staff,” he explained. “I want to be reliable in every game situation.”

Bisson credits Junior Senators Head Coach Martin Dagenais and the Ottawa coaching staff with helping him become one of the CCHL’s top defenders.

“Since joining the Junior Senators my game has evolved a whole lot,” said Bisson. “As a kid I was always under the radar doing my job and now obviously things have changed and I have a primary role on a team. The coaching staff has always wanted me to be as complete as possible and that’s where my development really sky rocketed.”

The youngster is not easily satisfied.

“There’s always room for improvement,” he remarked. “I’ve been working really hard to become a threat on the offensive side of things. Trying to shoot the puck more often and effectively.”

But, preventing goals or scoring more points isn’t all that Bisson expects to contribute to the Junior Senators. The team has welcomed 14 new players in 2018-19 and acclimating them to the Junior Senators way and making them comfortable is critical to continuing the club’s winning ways. Maintaining Ottawa’s winning tradition is something that is very important to Bisson and the other Junior Senator veterans.

“Off the ice is going to be more important than ever,” said the assistant captain. “I’m going to have to be a great leader and mentor the new guys. “Also making sure everyone gets along is crucial to the team’s success.”

The 2017-18 campaign was one of the Junior Senators’ greatest. In addition to claiming another Yzerman Division crown, Ottawa went on to win the Bogart and Fred Page Cups. Duplicating those feats with the 14 rookies will make this season more challenging as last year Ottawa had just two rookies left on their roster after the January 10th trade deadline. But, it’s something that Bisson and the team is up to doing.

Bisson, who is taking the semester off from Ottawa University and is prepping for his SAT, wants to continue his hockey career post Junior Senators.

“I would love to play Division I and that’s been my focus since joining Ottawa,” he pointed out adding that Division I hockey has been his “childhood dream.”

He appears to be well on his way thanks to his play on the ice and his leadership abilities.