Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor

By Regan Bartel

Cooking, chess, and the blue line

Gabriel Guilbault balances life and hockey

Sep 26, 2025 | 6:00 AM

Gabriel Guilbault, a defenseman entering his second season with the Kelowna Rockets, has found an unusual outlet for a junior hockey player. His billet family has made it part of his development, encouraging him to learn life skills alongside hockey.

“Once a week, our billet’s challenge is to cook a meal for everybody,” he told RocketFAN. “They help us; we’re not on our own. Even on days we’re not cooking, we help around the house. They’re preparing us for the next step.”

Guilbault takes the weekly cooking challenge seriously. His billet brother, rookie American-born goalie Harrison Boettinger, has little experience in the kitchen, so Guilbault often leads the way.

“I know my billet brother hasn’t cooked much. This is a great opportunity for him, and I get to learn new skills too.”

Cooking is a source of pride and confidence for him.

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“I like to cook. I want to say I’m a good cook. I like what I make, and that’s what matters.”

His go-to meals range from stir fry and fried rice to burgers, barbecue, steak, and firecracker beef over rice.

“They’re simple dishes, but they get the job done. I eat a lot, so it’s easy to prepare a large amount, and the leftovers go in the fridge for the next day. Those are some of my go-to meals for sure.”

Cooking is more than just preparing a meal. It gives Guilbault a break from the intensity of junior hockey.

“It’s good to get away from it because I can get too hyper-focused and hard on myself. Talking to my billets about it is great—they’re a great outlet, and we can talk about anything. My parents are obviously great people to talk to too.”

Chess provides another mental outlet.

“It gets me thinking and off whatever was stressing me. You have to be present in the moment. Playing online chess anywhere helps me unwind after a game or on the bus. It really helps me take a step back.”

On the ice, life is fast and challenging. Reflecting on his first WHL season, Guilbault says, “It was definitely hard. Jumping up a league in the middle of the season, then getting injured, was a setback. Coming back and fighting for a spot again was tough, but I learned a lot.”

He calls that period a “big learning year” and adds, “I’m really prepared for this year because of it.”

The mental challenge of hockey remains intense.

“It’s always in the back of your mind. You want to do everything you can, sometimes overcompensating. You can become hyper-focused, and it plays a big role.”

As a defenseman, Guilbault is aware of how visible mistakes are.

“We’re there to facilitate for our forwards and make their lives easier and rely on our goalie. Details are different in our zone, but you can also get away with some things. It’s two different aspects of the game, but both are important.”

He approaches mistakes with perspective.

“The biggest thing is not to overreact. You learn from your mistake and get back in the game. You can rewatch and analyze later, but in the game, stay present. Take a snapshot, move on, and then reflect afterward with the coaches.”

Balance, Guilbault says, is central to his growth. The focus and intensity of a defenseman, the patience of a chess player, and the creativity in the kitchen all contribute to his development both on and off the ice.

Whether cooking for his billet family, thinking through a chess match, or defending the Rockets’ blue line, Guilbault is building habits, resilience, and skills that will serve him long after the final buzzer.