The St. Louis Blues have added two more brothers to their roster, acquiring forward Mathieu Joseph in a trade with the Ottawa Senators and signing free-agent defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph. The Joseph brothers, aged 27 and 25 respectively, sit down with The Athletic for an hour-long Zoom call. They discuss their reverence for each other, their excitement about joining the Blues and the nature of their sibling rivalry. The brothers are planning to live together in St. Louis and are actively looking for a suitable house.
Mathieu and Pierre-Olivier have lived together for the past three years during the summer months. The forwarding forward and the free agent defenseman will be living together in St. Louis. In the meantime, they are currently living in Brossard, Quebec. Mathieu talks about the vibrant fan culture of St. Louis, particularly the song the crowd sings in the third period of a game. Pierre-Olivier fondly elaborates on the strong bond he shares with his brother by terming their relationship as “living with my best buddy.”
Delving into their family’s journey within the world of ice hockey, the Joseph brothers fondly think back at the time of their drafts into the NHL. It was during this time that the possibility of playing together first filled their thoughts. As their careers progressed, they have aided each other through highs and lows, both on and off the ice. Mathieu reveals that Pierre-Olivier has been a source of motivation for him, while expressing his own role in pushing his brother to reveal his full potential on the rink.
The Josephs reflect on the moment when they first played against each other in the NHL, which happened in Pittsburgh. Mathieu humorously recalls Pierre-Olivier’s silence during the game, despite his incessant chirping. They also recount an incident where both of them had to move to the penalty box due to a high-sticking penalty. Even though they were rivals in the game, their competitive natures remained, and they did not hold any grudge against each other.
Their parents, Frantzi and France Joseph, have been supporting pillars for the Joseph brothers as they navigated through their hockey careers. When they informed their parents about both of them moving to St. Louis, it was met with joy and tears. The decision was particularly special as Pierre-Olivier chose to play with Mathieu instead of pushing for a different offer. As children, they were encouraged to work hard and were not pushed to any particular sport or career. Their parents only emphasis was on commitment and effort.
Finally, the Joseph brothers show their excitement for starting their shared journey at the St. Louis Blues. Mathieu will wear the jersey number 71 in honor of their father, who wore number 7 throughout his life, while Pierre-Olivier will wear the jersey number 77. The Blues announced that despite having the same last name, both of the jerseys will only have “Joseph”. Ending the interview, both brothers express their admiration for each other’s game, promising Blues fans a memorable season ahead.
