Owen Chartier grew up surrounded by hockey, with him, his older brother, and his younger brother playing. Chartier explained that his older brother pushed him to grow, and then he was able to help his younger brother out. Chartier said, “We always used to go out on the ODR (outdoor rink) and skate together, have fun, and work on our craft together.”
Chatier is a returning player for the Shamrocks, having played 53 games last year. Going into last year, Chartier described himself as shy, so volunteering in the community and participating helped him to become more outgoing and overcome his shyness. In terms of on the ice, Chartier credits a lot of offseason work, such as video, off-ice skills, and the coaches helping him to develop as a player.
As a young forward, Chartier is always seeking to improve and adapt to a rapidly evolving game. The current biggest influence on his game is Matthew Tkachuk, specifically his ability to get in the corners, be on the puck, and get open. Chartier said, “Just learning how he plays and his style helps.”
Last season, Chartier won the NAHL’s community service award. This year, he has continued to volunteer in the Watertown community. “I try to get out at least once or twice a week. It’s huge, just coming to the rink every day knowing the support you have here, it’s amazing.” Chartier explained that this community has fans everywhere, making it even more fun to play here.
As we reach the halfway point of the season, Chartier had the opportunity to reflect on his favorite moments on and off the ice. Chartier said, “Favorite moment off the ice is just like meeting everyone. We have a bunch of guys returning, so reconnecting with them and meeting all the new guys and building a bond. On the ice, getting a win at home, there’s nothing better than that.”
Chartier agreed that this team, city, and organization mean a lot to him. He came in as a young player last year, but has been allowed to grow his junior career here. Chartier said, “It’s been a lot of fun, I love the town, I love the people, the organization is great, so I love it.”
Thank you, Owen, for sitting down with me!
By Lily Schutzenhofer
Photo by Sarah Cooper