Player Profile-Josh Gagne

For home games during the 2017-18 season, the Carleton Place Canadians will be profiling one player from the team. This time, the profile is on Josh Gagne.

Quick Bio

Birthdate: May 17, 1997

Hometown: Caledon, Ont.

Height: 6’0″

Weight: 195 lbs

Shoots: R

Position: D

Gagne is in his first season with the Canadians and, as a 20-year-old, this season is his final season of Jr. ‘A’ eligibility.

The Caledon, Ont. native spent one year at The Hill Academy before going to The Gunnery Prep school in Washington, Conn. for two seasons.

“It was a very good league, a lot of guys get drafted out of there,” Gagne said. “Not a lot of body contact there, it’s mostly skilled guys, but it had very fast play and I think that prepared me when I got to junior.”

In 2016-17, Gagne started his Jr. ‘A’ career with the Brooks Bandits as a 19-year-old before being dealt to the Calgary Canucks. This season, Canadians picked up Gagne in late September.

“Obviously it was a great opportunity (for me). The team I was on previously, the Calgary Canucks, haven’t been doing that great this year, so it was very exciting hearing that I’ve been traded here. It’s been a great experience for me, I’ve been having a lot of fun here.”

On the ice, Gagne uses his defensive skills to make an impact on the game.

“I’m more of a defensive defenceman out there. I usually cover for my D-partner, I try to do my best to back to every puck and stuff. Lately I’ve been doing a little more contributing to the offensive side, but I’d really go with a defensive defenceman.”

Being one of the six 20-year-olds teams in the CCHL can have comes with some added responsibility as a leader on the team, something Gagne has accepted during his time in Carleton Place.

“I’m pretty close with most of the rookies, I kind of try to act like a big brother and stay close to all of them,” he said. “I try to stay neutral on the team, I don’t have a letter on my jersey, so I try to encourage guys when I can and keep a positive attitude around the room.”