Feature Photo: Getty Images
Mathieu and Pierre-Olivier Joseph are ready to bring their brotherly love to the St. Louis Blues.
Older brother Mathieu, a 27-year-old forward, was acquired through a trade with the Ottawa Senators on July 2 before just one day later being joined by his 25-year-old brother, defenceman Pierre-Olivier, who signed a one-year contract with the Blues.
When the puck drops on the 2024-25 NHL campaign, it will mark the first time that Mathieu and Pierre-Olivier have played on the same team at the NHL level.
“We spoke about it happening a few times over the years,” said Pierre-Olivier, who spent the past four NHL seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“We thought it might happen later in our careers, maybe playing in Europe when we were older. But it was obviously just a thought – we never expected it to happen.”
Now that it has, the siblings are still trying to wrap their heads around it.
“It is so weird,” said Mathieu, who skated in 72 regular-season contests with the Ottawa Senators last season and posted career-bests in assists and points with 24 and 35, respectively.
“We never thought it would happen so quickly into our NHL careers. It’s different, for sure, but it is great too.”
The two are reminded of their good fortune every time they load their equipment in the trunk.
“When we put our hockey bags in the car for training, we always smile,” said Pierre-Olivier. “When we see the same colours, the same jersey – we are excited about it. It is so crazy to see we have everything the same.
“I never expected that one day I would be able to play with my brother in the NHL. I think it’s fantastic and I can’t wait to start.
“I have heard that it is a great group in St. Louis, and everyone is excited to get the season started.”
Mathieu, like his brother, is looking forward to helping the Blues get back into the playoffs after missing the cut the past two seasons.
“It’s never been easy to play against St. Louis,” said Mathieu, who won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“They are a young team, exciting, fast, and well-coached. Hopefully, we can help with that team chemistry.
“We aren’t twins, but we do have that twin vibe.”
The pair will represent the latest chapter of brothers to play with the Blues, joining the Plagers (Bob, Barclay and Bill) and the Sutter brothers (Brian, Rich and Ron).
“We just want to bring our joy and competitiveness to the team, to bring some fun and try to win every night,” said Pierre-Olivier, the 23rd overall pick of the Arizona Coyotes in 2017.
“To have this opportunity with my brother is a great feeling. We are very grateful and happy.”
They are far from the only ones.
Their parents, Frantzi Joseph and France Taillon, along with the brothers’ friends, are still talking about it.
“Everyone in our family and in our friend groups are so happy,” shared Pierre-Olivier, who grew up alongside his brother in the Montreal suburb of Laval, Quebec.
“When we go to practice or come home and we have the same gear, you can see how excited people are for us.”
Having one team to support also has its advantages.
“It is also good because our family and friends just have one team to cheer for and one team to go watch,” added Pierre-Olivier.
“Our parents are thrilled about this. All the sacrifices and travelling they did for us, now it is a bit easier to go to one game in Montreal and one trip at a time.”
Mathieu agreed with his younger brother.
“That is cool to share this with everyone. Hopefully, we can play together for more than just one season.”
The siblings are currently looking for a place to live in their new NHL city.
“We have been talking to a realtor in St. Louis about finding a place together. We want to have a decent-sized place for when family and friends come, to make it feel a little bit more like home.”
“It will be nice when family comes to stay with us – they get two-for-one now,” said Mathieu with a laugh.
Wherever they do call home, there is one must-have on their list.
“We will get a pool table or a ping-pong table, so we can compete outside of the hockey arena,” said Pierre-Olivier.
Just like they did when they were growing up.
These days, however, tempers will be far tamer when it comes to competing against one another.
“We have always supported each other and we always push each other to be the best players we can be,” said Pierre-Olivier.
“I remember playing ping-pong or mini-hockey with Mathieu and it would get pretty intense.”
“But looking back, everything was done to push each other, and it helped us with hockey and sports.”
Mathieu views those moments in the same light.
“We loved to compete, in general, against one another.
“He would beat me in one thing, and I would beat him in the other. It makes it fun – competing is part of who we are.”
It might have also unknowingly helped them in the kitchen.
As for which one will take the lead in meal preparation during the NHL season, it’s the younger Joseph who has the upper hand, at least for now.
“I feel like we’re pretty good at sharing responsibilities,” said Mathieu.
“He likes to make cool meals and he’s good at it. I would have to agree that he is better than me at cooking.”
“Mathieu has stepped up his game, but I do think I’m at least one per cent better than him in the kitchen,” said Pierre-Olivier. “That is good enough for me.”
But not nearly as good as having the chance to play on the same NHL team.
Talking hockey will be different than ever before.
“We always watched each other’s games, and we would talk on the phone, just catching up on life,” recalled Pierre-Olivier.
“We are very similar in so many ways outside of hockey and relate so easily to each other.
“Mathieu has been an impactful person in my life, and I am excited to share this journey with him.”
