Bruins defenseman Frederic Brunet gets his first chance to go against the Canadiens

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Frederic Brunet wanted to keep one fact secret, but he knew it was impossible if he was being honest. Like most kids growing up in Quebec, Brunet was a big Canadiens fan, just…

Frederic Brunet wanted to keep one fact secret, but he knew it was impossible if he was being honest.

Like most kids growing up in Quebec, Brunet was a big Canadiens fan, just like his dad, Michel. That, however, was no big secret.

The confidential info Brunet wanted to keep under wraps? His favorite Canadien.

“It was P.K. Subban,” Brunet said, followed by a burst of nervous laughter following Thursday’s morning skate at Warrior Ice Arena.

Subban, known to a new generation of hockey fans as a flamboyant TV analyst, was once Public Enemy No. 1 in Boston. The Montreal defenseman had an intense rivalry with former Bruin Brad Marchand that included lots of yapping, hits, and haymakers.

“I know, I know,” Brunet said. “When [I was drafted by the Bruins], I was like, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to say that in the media that P.K. Subban was my favorite player.’ I don’t know. It’s crazy.”

The 23-year-old Brunet has been to the Bell Centre a number of times but counts that summer day in 2022 when the Bruins called his name in the fifth round of the draft as his most memorable.

“Oh, it was crazy. ... There was a French scout for the Bruins and he [called out the selection] in French, too,” said Brunet. “And just hearing your name out loud, being drafted by the Bruins, I think there was a couple cheers out there because I’m from Quebec, but obviously it’s one of their biggest rivals, so I understand it was a weird situation, but it was fun.”

The rookie defenseman got his initial first-hand experience in the rivalry Thursday night when Boston faced off against Montreal at TD Garden.

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