Brady Fleurent: A Veteran Player's Influence
At the start of a weekend of back to back games for the Norfolk Admirals at the start of December 2025, veteran forward Brady Fleurent sat down with Olde City Sports Network to talk on his career, off-season training, along with who he would for his three on three OT lineup!
Fleurent is a veteran player that comes with eight years of experience under his belt and is a leader in the room. Over the course of his career, Fleurent has been on eight different teams within the SPHL and ECHL. He has played for Knoxville Ice Bears, South Carolina Stingrays, Wheeling Nailers, Wichita Thunder, Rapid City Rush, Adirondack Thunder, Atlanta Gladiators, and now the Norfolk Admirals, with whom he has called home for the last three seasons.“I think you just kind of learn a little bit from each team, different locker rooms, different amount of guys. I think you pick up on different things everywhere you are. So I think during my career, I think I just tried to pick up on a little bit everywhere I was. It's always good to kind of keep in your toolbox. I think I've kind taken from every team and gotten a little piece to make a player I am now today.”
Being a veteran player and being in the league for eight years, players have seen the game change and get faster and more talented with AHL and NHL contracted players coming down to the ECHL to gain more development time. “I would say it's getting faster and younger. Even the NHL now too, I feel like these kids coming up now, they're kind of pushing the older guys away a bit. It's getting faster and a lot of speed and skating and skill. I feel like hockey in general has been teaching the younger kids now to have more skill, speed, and all that. So I definitely would say that's my biggest thing.”
- Photo Credit: Emily Lowery/Olde City Sports Network
Before hitting the professional ranks, Fleurent played four years at the University of New England. He dressed in 110 games and tallied 60 goals and 121 assists. During Fleurent’s last two seasons with the University of New England, he wore the “C” on his sweater. After his collegiate career ended, he got the call to head to the ECHL with the Atlanta Gladiators. Coming into the league and his longevity in the league, he has a lot of memories of goals that stand out. “I would say the first one was pretty memorable when I went to Atlanta after school. That one goal there, my first one in Atlanta was pretty cool. Your first pro goal, kind of always worked your entire life to get that area. I think one of the other ones was when I was here, I had a four goal game versus Atlanta, when my family was here. So that was probably one of my special moments too. My son was just born, my first game back, I had a four goal game. So that was a pretty cool one to remember, too.”
In the ECHL, the team dynamic is ever changing with players being signed, traded, called up to the AHL, or opting to head overseas. Not only does a strong team dynamic foster communication, but it also provides cohesive play among the team on the ice and during games. Being a veteran in the ECHL, Fleurent is no stranger to a strong team dynamic.“I think, when you're familiar with the guys, it helps when you're in locker room and it's not constant turnover. I think when you have returners or just good guys in and out in the locker room on the ice, I think you’ve got good team bonding. I think it goes a long way. It's kind of like different teams at different dynamics, but I think when you can get some returners and have some guys that have played with each other and some familiar, I think that goes a long way, and I think it helps it in the long run.”
- Photo Credit: Emily Lowery/Olde City Sports Network
Motivation is key for all players on the team, especially during the times that are bleak or where the team is struggling. Each player individually has their own motivation to come to rink everyday and the team as a whole does as well. “I think you’ve got to enjoy coming to the rink. When you hit a rough time, sometimes, you don't enjoy going to the rink in a losing streak. I think you just got to stay positive and make sure the guys realize we're gonna get out of it. I think you just got to do a simple, small things on the ice and do the right thing, then I think hockey gods reward you if you're working hard and playing the right way. You just got to have fun coming to the rink on the ice, no matter what. Sometimes it's not the easiest to do when you're in a slump like that, but I think if you stay in the course and still have fun and still do the little things, I think you're going to get rewarded.”
The approach to the game is different for every player. It may change from the start of their career to the end. Adjustment to the approach of a game may have to change as a player gets older or goes to a new team. Fleurent attempts to keep is approach and mindset the same. “I try and keep it the same, no matter what. I feel like, whether I was 21 now and now I'm 31 playing. I try and have the same mindset, no matter what, and that's to play your hardest and just play simple and play your best, and you'll be rewarded. Obviously, as you get a little older, the speed kind of goes a little bit, so you kind of, I don't want to say change the game, but I think it's more know what your game is and you play that the right way and I think I'm just kind of knowing what my game is and going into the season knowing whatever role you have to play. I think you get that role and you know what that role is and you just kind of have that mindset and play that way.”
Players constantly work on skills throughout the year, on and off the ice, during the season, and in summer training. Fleurent is no stranger to constantly working on his skills and points out a skill that he likes to work on. “I think a skill I like to do is I'm a net front guy, I like to be around the net and score a lot of my goals there. So a skill I like to keep working on is tipping shots from outside or just being around the net one time because I know for me to be successful that I need to be good at that stuff. So I feel like I'm always working on that because that's where I make my bread and butter. So I feel like I got to be in my top my game when it comes to around the net and some tips and all that.”
Going throughout a long career from juniors, to college, to professional hockey, players work with different coaches and mentors throughout their time playing. They receive advice and guidance that they apply to their game. “I've had so many good kind of captains throughout leaders throughout my career to pick one, it would be tough. I just think just in general just to be yourself and enjoy coming to the rink and know some of my best years is when I've had the most fun off the ice and on the ice. Coming to the rink with the guys has been the most fun, and I think that's when you play your best. I got taught that as a rookie to enjoy it. Comes by quick, and you really never know when it's you're gonna be done, too. So I think it's just more about being enjoying it, being in the moment, and enjoying enjoying it while you do it.”
Off-season training is crucial for all professional hockey players as it strengthens skills and helps to work on advancing for the next season. Some players have strict regimens when they go home to train, and some change it up from off -season to off-season. “I go home in Maine. I do some skating with some pro guys and college guys around the area. Connor Doherty [Florida Everblades] do skates in the summer together. Play men's league with him and some guys as well. I try to not be on the ice every day because it is a long season and the body needs a break. So during the summer, I like to catch up more on family time and go to the beach and play golf with my buddies, but I do some skates, some scale skates, and some open skates three days a week. Play in some mens league to have fun and get the game competitive still in you. So it kind of varies, but I'd say just on the ice 3 to 4 times a week.”
Some players are very routine oriented, some go with the flow. Having a routine on game day keeps a player primed and focused for the game or games ahead if it’s a back to back set. “We like our routines. I just try and keep it the same. I like the massage gun with my coffee after a meeting and then some foam roll stretches and if things are going good, keep it the same. Every game, things aren't going well, I try and maybe tweak it a little bit and see if that works. I have some that depends if things are going good or bad. I'm not a sewer guy, but never have been, so I just kind of stick more with the massaging stuff.”
For any player, they have a dream team or players that they would absolutely want to play along with during a game or for overtime. For Fleurent, he chose Pastrnak, along with Connor McDavid. Choosing Pastrnak was a hometown team feeling. “I'm a Bruins fan, so I'd have to put probably a Pastrnak on there. In the summer, two summers ago, he came to my work while on vacation, I got to golf with him. So it was pretty cool to meet him and everything. So I'd put him on there for sure. I feel like you gotta probably put McDavid on there. I feel like I would be fun playing with those two. One's a shooter and one can do anything, so it would be fun.”
Fleurent has dressed in 36 games for the Norfolk Admirals thus far this season. He has posted 14 goals and 21 assists and continues to be a mainstay in the Norfolk community.
- Samantha Wismer/Olde City Sports Network
- Photo Credit: Emily Lowery/Olde City Sports Network
