MONTREAL - After signing his first pro contract with his childhood team last September, Joel Teasdale remains humble. He knows you can't take anything for granted in hockey.

The Sainte-Julie, QC native's non-traditional path is a good indicator that there isn't one particular road or way to achieve your goals.

With a contract in his back pocket, the left-winger can breathe a little bit easier this season after experiencing some disappointment.

"Things are going very well. I've gained a lot of confidence after signing with the Canadiens. I have less weight on my shoulders trying to impress NHL teams, so I'm definitely feeling lighter with fewer things on my mind. I haven't changed the way I play," said Teasdale.

The 19-year-old forward, who was recently traded from the QMJHL's Blainville-Boisbriand Armada to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, was never drafted by an NHL squad.

"I was ignored in my draft year in 2017 after a very good season, so it was definitely tough. But, I told myself that I needed to keep on pushing because the Draft isn't the only way to reach my objective. At the end of the season, I was invited to camp by the Minnesota Wild.

Then, I headed back to Junior hoping that I'd be drafted the next year or just invited to a camp. I was ignored again," said Teasdale, who has 40 points (20 g - 20 a) in 38 games between Blainville-Boisbriand and Rouyn-Noranda so far this season. "After that, the Canadiens invited me to camp. That's when I told myself that I have to give everything I have, and that's exactly what I did to finally sign my first contract."

Teasdale could count on the support of those around him when things weren't really going his way, though.

"When you're ignored like that, you think that you might not be able to realize your dream. But, that isn't the right mentality to have. I was well-surrounded. My family, my agent and my friends comforted and motivated me to keep on going. They told me that there are other ways to reach your dreams and that there were a lot of examples of that in the NHL," stressed Teasdale.

Now in his fourth Junior campaign, Teasdale would like to prove the Habs' brass right for inking him to a deal.

"It was more like a reward for what I did well, so it motivated me to continue in the right direction. It's a dream come true," said Teasdale. "At the end of the day, my dream is to play in the NHL. The fact that the Canadiens gave me an opportunity to pursue my dream is even more special. Without my parents, my family and my friends, I never could have reached this goal."

Tweet from @CanadiensMTL: "It���s hard to describe how I���m feeling. I���m super happy, it���s the team I grew up watching on TV. I wore their jersey when I played street hockey. To be able to play a game and then sign a contract feels incredible."-Jo��l Teasdale on signing with the Habs #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/vZPyIufpdQ

One objective in mind

Even though Teasdale was signed by the Habs, he realizes that he still has a long way to go to accomplish his ultimate goal.

For starters, he'd like to join his former Junior head coach with the AHL's Laval Rocket next season.

"I'd definitely like to play with the Rocket next year, but I still have to improve many aspects of my game," admitted Teasdale.

For Rocket bench boss Joel Bouchard, his former charge has earned everything he's been given.

"He has one goal in life and it's to be the best player possible. Things have gone quickly for him over the last year, but he deserves it. He's having an excellent season right now in Junior, and he knows that he has to keep it going. If he doesn't, he knows that he'll be in trouble with me next year," cracked Bouchard.

And, if Teasdale does have to return to the Junior ranks, he'll keep on persevering because…

"Hockey is my passion," he concluded. "I wouldn't know what to do in life without it."