All’s well for Briere on ice, personal life

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/01/2011 (5705 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PHILADELPHIA — Daniel Briere is at peace with himself, and that’s good news for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Last season, the 33-year-old centre from Gatineau, Que., struggled through one of the worst regular seasons of his career, getting only 26 goals and 27 assists in 75 games. It was a season that mirrored the season the Flyers had, struggling before making the playoffs on the final day of the season.

But in the playoffs, Briere and the Flyers caught fire and rode a hot streak all the way to the Stanley Cup final. Briere led the league in scoring with 12 goals and 18 assists — the most ever for a Flyer in the playoffs — and he has continued that hot pace this season.

Playing with playoff linemates Scott Hartnell and Ville Leino, he leads the Flyers with 25 goals and 18 assists in 44 games, and has just been named as a replacement for Calgary’s Jarome Iginla in this year’s NHL all-star game.

The difference in Briere this season is that he has been able to concentrate on hockey and have some fun. Last season, there wasn’t much of that as he was going through a divorce from his wife, Sylvie. But with that behind him, he has been freed of distractions and worries.

“I think it makes life a lot easier, a lot less stressful, and I can enjoy hockey and concentrate on hockey a lot more,” he said on Thursday.

Philadelphia coach Pete Laviolette said it was obvious that Briere was carrying a weight around with him last year.

“Sometimes people’s lives are better than others, whether it’s hockey or work. When things are good in your life, you feel good, you come in with a great, positive attitude.

“We’re no different. Everybody’s the same. That’s life.

“I’m sure he’s coming to the rink (feeling) different. He had some issues, some problems he was dealing with off the ice, and that’s behind him now. When your personal life is good, sometimes your work life gets better, as well.”

Briere was especially tickled about getting invited to the all-star game because he can take his three sons: Caelan, 12, Carson, 11, and Cameron, 9 (Briere and his ex-wife share custody of the boys, but when Briere is home in Philadelphia, they mostly stay with him).

They were too young to go the first time Briere played in the game, in 2007 in Dallas.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “I’m not going to lie about it. The big thing for me is that the first time I didn’t know what to expect. This time I think I’m going to try to enjoy it a little more, be a bit more relaxed. But probably what I’m most excited about is being able to share it with my three boys.”

As for his own season, he’s trying not to analyze it too deeply.

“At this point, I’m not asking questions,” he said “I’m just trying to enjoy it as much as possible.

“I mean, obviously I’m getting a little older. I don’t know how many years like that I’m going to have, so I’m just trying to take it all in.”

— Postmedia News