Submitted by Anonymous on November 8, 2016 - 14:41



By Jeremy Houghtaling



Yanni Gourde’s move to the middle has provided a spark for the Syracuse Crunch’s offense.

Used primarily a winger over the course of his pro career, Gourde was asked to center a line with Mike Halmo and Cory Conacher last weekend. The forward registered the game-winning goal in a 3-2 victory over Rochester on Friday, and had the primary assist on Halmo’s go-ahead goal in a 2-1 win over Utica on Saturday.

Although there are still some aspects of center he’s looking to improve, Gourde feels comfortable in the middle.

“It is a little bit tougher, especially taking draws, but I’m working on it and I’m trying to get better,” Gourde said. “But once the puck is dropped, hockey is hockey. I know what you have to do and I do it.”

Gourde played center his first year of junior hockey and for a few games during his rookie pro season, but has been used almost exclusively at wing the past couple years with the Crunch.

“We asked him to play in the middle, and he’s a pleasant surprise for us,” Crunch head coach Benoit Groulx said. “He works at it. It’s not an easy task for the winger to go into the middle of the ice. It’s easier to go from center to wing. We had no choice because of injuries and all that, but I think he’s doing very well.”

Gourde, Halmo and Conacher have had instant chemistry. The trio combined for eight points and scored three out of the team’s five goals in two games last weekend.

“They’ve been doing a lot of good things,” Groulx said. “When they are on the ice, they are manufacturing chances. Yanni creates things with his speed. He’s a second-effort hockey player, no doubt about it.”

Gourde, a native of St. Narcisse, Quebec, has totaled four points over the last four games, and has three goals and two assists in nine contests this season.

“I’m playing with two great players, and that makes it easier for me,” the 24-year-old said. “Conacher has such good speed and Halmo is so strong on the puck, so it’s tough to move him around. It’s been fun playing with those two guys.”

Gourde, who registered 239 points in 228 contests with Victoriaville of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League but went undrafted, began his pro career with the Sharks organization and split the 2012-13 and the first part of the 2013-14 seasons between AHL Worcester and the ECHL. Signed by the Lightning in March 2014, the 5-9, 167-pounder recorded eight points in the final 18 games with the Crunch in 2013-14.

Gourde finished with 57 points in 76 games in 2014-15, and added 44 points in 65 contests last year. His play earned him his first call-up, where he had one assist in two games with Tampa Bay.

No matter the position, Gourde is working to make sure his first taste of the NHL isn’t his last.

“All summer I was working out and trying to see myself in Tampa Bay, and trying to push myself harder to make that team,” Gourde said. “Obviously, we have so much depth in this organization. It’s awesome, but at the same time, it’s harder for us to get games in Tampa Bay. It was a huge help for me to have those two games to be ready for this year.”