Brothers Mathieu and Pierre-Olivier Joseph are close, but they have never been closer than now in the last thirteen years.
The two men from Montérégie are now teammates with the St. Louis Blues, who had never played together in the past due to their two-year age difference, Mathieu being 27 and Pierre-Olivier 25 years.
“It was quite strange to see him every day,” admitted Pierre-Olivier after the Blues’ morning practice at the Bell Center on Saturday. In the last 13 years, we didn’t see each other for nine months. We bring our energy to a team that is fascinating with lots of new players.”
If the Joseph brothers find themselves reunited in this way, it is because they wanted it in a certain way. On July 2, Mathieu was traded to the Blues by the Ottawa Senators. The next day, Pierre-Olivier signed a one-year contract as a free agent with the Blues, he who was studying offers from the Blues and other teams. He was sitting next to Mathieu when he learned he was traded, the decision was obvious.
Easy adjustment
In a television commercial for an automobile manufacturer, we see the two brothers bickering in a car, but we assure you that they get along well.
“This is new for us. Our adjustment went really well. We played together during the summer,” explained Mathieu.
“We have our little moments here and there, but it’s part of family life,” adds Pierre-Olivier. We live together during the summer and throughout the year so when we need our space, we take it.
“We have gotten along so well for so many years that there is no difference when we arrive on a hockey team.”
A surprise
Even if they had their say in this meeting since it was Pierre-Olivier who chose to sign an agreement with the Blues, the Joseph brothers are happy that this meeting materialized.
“We wanted to play in the national league one day if we could, but didn’t necessarily think it was going to happen so soon,” admits Mathieu. These are moments that will be etched in my memory forever.”
The brother duo put their touch on a game against the Hurricanes less than two weeks ago when Mathieu scored on a pass from Pierre-Olivier. The first is an attacker and the second is a defender, so they can collaborate.
“We can talk after the games, about the system, what it could do better and what I could do better. It’s gold honestly. It’s not easy to play in this league, so doing it together helps,” explains Mathieu.
Belle adaptation
The Joseph brothers feel like they have won the lottery and arrived at the Blues.
“It helps to have someone you know so well around, but the players are incredible with the rest of us, the team chemistry is incredible and we bring our little grain into that room,” notes Pierre- Olive.
Mathieu even discovered a passion for one of St. Louis’ culinary specialties, barbecue.
“No worse is coming,” laughs Pierre-Olivier. We bought a barbecue at home in St. Louis so he’s starting to make a little more. We’ll give him a couple of cookbooks and he’ll be fine.”
