Old war stories from the "Q" -- the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League -- are common in the French Quarter of the Victoria Salmon Kings' dressing room.

But even Olivier Latendresse has to admit Salmon Kings teammate Patrick Coulombe's Rimouski Oceanic had it all over his Val D'Or Foreurs, the team Lantendresse led in scoring for three of his four seasons in the "Q."

"We were probably as good as they were except they had [Sidney] Crosby," chuckled Latendresse, who knows that is a big "except."

Latendresse, who signed an NHL contract with the Phoenix Coyotes in 2004 before they traded him to the Montreal Canadiens in 2008, played in the minor-pro systems of both clubs at the AHL and ECHL levels. Now a free agent at age 23, the centre started the season in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose before signing this week with the Salmon Kings of the ECHL.

Latendresse, who played three seasons in Val D'Or with Kris Letang of Pittsburgh and the late Luc Bourdon, is among six QMJHL grads among a Salmon Kings roster of 12 forwards, eight defencemen and two goalies that is preparing to open the ECHL season Friday night in Anchorage against the Alaska Aces.

The five-foot-10 Latendresse was a better than point-per-game junior with 289 points in 246 games at Val D'Or, including 125 points in 70 games in his final season, and is just under point-per-game pace as a pro with 167 points in 176 games in the AHL, ECHL and Central League.

It is, however, Latendresse's championship pedigree from winning the 2008 ECHL Kelly Cup title in Cincinnati that most intrigues Salmon Kings GM and head coach Mark Morrison. That 2007-08 Cyclones squad was exceptional and rated AHL calibre by many hockey experts.

"I would agree with that assessment," said Latendresse, the brother of Montreal Canadiens winger Guillaume Latendresse.

"That Cyclones team, and that whole experience, was unreal. By the end of the season we were treated like rock stars in Cincinnati with more than 10,000 people out to our games, which is amazing since it's a big-league market. Despite the obvious talent we had on that squad, we were also all hard workers and all-out committed to a common cause. We were all on task. I really learned from that on what it takes for a team to be a winning team."

Latendresse is not just another fancy stickhandler out there. His ample penalty minutes in both junior and pro indicate a pugnacious streak and willingness to stick his nose into matters.

"I'm young but bring leadership and work ethic," he said.

"Wherever I've played, fans got to know that I work hard and give my best every night. The only thing you control in this game is how hard you are willing to work. If you have the skills to go with that, the rest will fall into place."

Latendresse said he liked the calibre of team being assembled in Victoria and figured surrounding himself with this assemblage gives him the best shot to bounce back to the AHL.

Catching up on junior days in Victoria with old foes such as Coulombe and Yannick Tifu has been fun, too. There is the comfort bubble of language and culture, not that the boys from the "Q" always hang together on and off the ice.

"I don't like cliques on teams and I love to mix it up with everybody in the dressing room," Latendresse said.

"That's the way it should be or you don't build the chemistry a team needs to be successful."

Latendresse knows exactly what kind of team interaction is necessary for success. He has the championship ring to prove it.

ICE CHIPS: The Salmon Kings got down to 22 players by releasing forward Tim Crowder, a hometown Victoria product and NHL draft pick who won an NCAA title at Michigan State, former Nanaimo Clippers junior forward Kaleb Betts, forwards Kyle Bruce, Jason Deleurme, Brandon Lassiter, Colin Patterson and Bear Trapp, defenceman Kevin Falloon and goalies Stefan Drew and Justin Grevious.

cdheensaw@tc.canwest.com