A DAY FOR THANKS: Ottawa Senators defenceman Thomas Chabot grateful for family

Thomas Chabot's heart is full of love and appreciation when he looks back to his childhood

Published Oct 13, 2024  •  2 minute read

Ottawa Senators defenceman Thomas Chabot is thankful for his mom and dad, who he said were there for him in a big way as he grew up playing hockey. 'Along the way, there are a lot of people that help you in the hockey world, but I don't think any of that starts if your parents are not willing to put in the time making sure you could get to the rink.' Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

For much of Canada, Thanksgiving Day is a time spent with family; a day full of reflection and thanks, a big, fat turkey, lots of  home-baked goodies … and memories.

Growing up in small-town Quebec — Sainte-Marie-de-Beauce (population a bit more than 13,000) — 27-year-old Ottawa Senators defenceman Thomas Chabot has plenty of reasons to be thankful.

The son of Francois (his dad was an elementary-school teacher) and Claude (his mom was a hairdresser), Chabot grew up in a hockey-loving family. Chabot’s brother, Felix-Antoine, who scored two goals in his one and only QMHL game, is four years older.

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The parents didn’t miss a game when the boys were playing. The family was at the Senators’ game Saturday in Montreal.

Chabot’s heart is full of love and appreciation when he looks back to his childhood, when his parents spent much of their time making sure he was where he needed to be.

“You think of your mom and dad and all the hours they put in driving us to the rink, missing vacations,” he said. “Along the way, there are a lot of people that help you in the hockey world, but I don’t think any of that starts if your parents are not willing to put in the time making sure you could get to the rink.

“As you get older, you start realizing how much they did. You don’t think about it much when you’re 10 years old. You’re just getting in the car and going along for the ride, not thinking about a whole lot.

For Ottawa Senators coach Travis Green, Thanksgiving is a time to think about family. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

“For me, all the credit (for what I’ve done) goes to my parents. Everything you accomplish over the years, it’s always a big thank you to your parents for everything they’ve done for you. I say thank you all the time. We sit together and talk about the memories over dinner.”

Looking back at his childhood in small-town Quebec, Chabot said: “Everybody knew each other. I’m buddies with my brother’s buddies and he’s buddies with my buddies. It’s that kind of town. When I go back, they don’t see me as a hockey player, they see me as a friend they grew up with playing hockey at the outdoor rink.”

Senators coach Travis Green said Thanksgiving, for him, was always a bit like Christmas.

“It’s a time to think about your family,” he said. “Be thankful for what you have. I have good memories as a child, spending that day eating turkey, being together with family. I hope I said thanks (to my parents) enough. To get anywhere in life, most people have had that support from their parents through the good times and hard times.”

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