However, despite this mental connection between Juneau and his alma mater, the Pont Rouge, Quebec native has been physically absent from Troy since his graduation. That changed this October when the recently retired NHL star shared the ice with today’s Engineers, this time as an assistant coach.

Juneau described the skate around as “magical,” and as he took in the practice, leaning leisurely against the Field House’s refurbished boards, memories began to flow through the former Engineer’s thoughts.

“All four years were unbelievable,” Juneau said of his tenure at Rensselaer. “I didn’t think I was going to enjoy my first moment back on the ice again after I retired, but I did; maybe [because] it was here at RPI. I was just standing there on the boards watching the guys practice and different games different goals just come to mind, it was fun.

“Sometimes you are put in a situation where you are forced to think about something and things come to you and make you smile. It proves that this was just a great time for me here.”

The aeronautical engineering major, who also took some time in his October trip to tour the updated campus and visit some old professors, returned December 8 on a quasi business/recreation trip to see the Engineers take on Providence on what was coined “White-out Wednesday.”

“I was very anxious,” Juneau said in regards to seeing his first RPI game since the departing for the Canadian National Team and eventually the Boston Bruins in 1991. Juneau, who arrived just moments before the opening face-off, did not speak to the players prior to the game as erroneously reported.

However, while Juneau desperately sought to see his first Engineer game in over a decade, his trip back to Troy was business motivated, as the alum currently endeavors to begin a new career after hockey, a transition he hopes Rensselaer can aid him with.

Juneau, now a partner and account manager with Harfan Technologies spoke with members of the Rensselaer community in an effort to develop a potential research and development partnership with the Institute.

Harfan, based in Quebec City, Quebec, works mainly with metropolitan areas in an effort to create an environmentally safe atmosphere and improve cities infrastructures. Juneau is in charge of developing the U.S. market.

“It’s funny to be back at RPI to start a new career,” Juneau said. “I was here to start career 15 years ago, and now I’m back again starting a new career, trying to establish a partnership with RPI. Obviously it’s a beginning process, but it’s just great to be here.”

And obviously Juneau, who announced his retirement after the Montreal Canadians were swept from the 2004 NHL Playoffs, chose and excellent time to pursue a career outside of hockey.

“I think the timing was good, we all knew this was going to happen,” Juneau said when asked about the NHL Lockout.

Juneau went on to stay he anticipates more return trips to Rensselaer as he and Harfan are actively working to cultivate a partnership with the school.