The Gagné-Bergeron Pro-Am, taking place at the Videotron Center on August 10th, may well be the last after 15 years of existence. Vice President Alain Rioux, tired of carrying the annual event on his shoulders, is sounding the alarm for Quebec individuals or businesses to take the torch.
Each year, the popular activity, which brings nearly 30 NHL players together with fans, raises funds for Leucan, Pignon Bleu, the Philippe Boucher Foundation and the Maurice Tanguay Foundation. No less than $3.1 million has been donated to date.
But after years of hard work as a volunteer, Rioux wants to find a successor. The same observation applies to the two players sponsoring the event, who could be asked to change their names: Patrice Bergeron and Simon Gagné.
“We are victims of a monster success, but at the same time the monster is fragile because nobody gets paid there. It’s a cry from the bottom of my heart,” Rioux said.
“We’ve been raising our hands and talking around us since December. It’s a big machine, we’re talking about 13 committees and 125 people. Management has become a monster, like a big SME but made up entirely of volunteers. I’m 63, have been doing this for 15 years and put my heart and soul into it. It’s like letting my 15-year-old son go alone,” he added after the 2023 vintage press conference.
Montréal raises his hand
So far, Rioux and his friends have not received a positive response after offering to succeed “the two largest hockey organizations in Quebec.”
“I hope there is someone in Quebec who will raise their hand. We have people from Montreal who have raised their hands. We always thought we would one day be copied in Montreal, but that didn’t happen. I want it to stay in Quebec and I’ve told interested people from Montreal that I want to go all the way here,” the vice president said.
Alain Rioux does not have a specific date in mind when he says “go to the end”. The next edition, scheduled for August 10th, will take place, but time is running out after that.
“It’s not over by August 10 if we don’t find anyone, but I’m saying if we find someone before August 10 we would have an opportunity to do a good integration,” he explained.
Crosby and MacKinnon in the crosshairs
22 players have already confirmed their attendance for the next edition, including goalkeepers Samuel Montembeault and Jeremy Swayman, defenders Marc-Édouard Vlasic and Thomas Chabot, and forwards Jonathan Huberdeau, Alexis Lafrenière and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard.
Canadian striker Elizabeth Giguère will also be in attendance. The organization is also working to attract “Halifax’s two big stars,” Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon. Brad Marchand, Kaiden Guhle, David Perron and Phillip Danault are also possible.
It will be a duel between the Canadians, who will have five delegates, and the Bruins, who will have four.
“Max Talbot [qui sera entraîneur des Bruins avec Simon Gagné] is on record [de Crosby et MacKinnon]. We invite them every year and you have to understand that these guys are in demand from everywhere. Since Max is a good friend of Sidney’s, we’re hoping this will be the key that unlocks the door to get her on the plane,” Rioux said.
In short, the future of Pro-Am Gagné-Bergeron in Quebec is uncertain, but the present is promising.
“No offense to Gary Bettman, Quebec is hockey,” joked Organizing Committee President Bruno Guay.
The players present on August 10:
Guardian
- Samuel Montembeault (Canadian)
- Jeremy SwaymanBruins
defender
- Marc-Edouard Vlasic (Sharks)
- Thomas Chabot (Senators)
- David Savard (Canadian)
- Alexandre Carrier (Predators)
- Pierre-Olivier Joseph (penguins)
- Frederic Allard (Canadian)
- Jordan Harris (Canadian)
- Brandon Carlo (Bruins)
- Matt Grzelcyk (Bruins)
attacker
- Patrice Bergeron (Bruins)
- Yanni Pumpkin (Octopus)
- Jonathan Marchessault (Golden Knights)
- Jonathan Huberdeau (Flames)
- Mathieu Joseph (Senators)
- Jacob Pelletier (Flames)
- Ragfael Harvey-Pinard (Canadian)
- Alex Belzile (Canadian)
- Pierre-Luc Dubois (Jets)
- Alexis Lafreniere (Rangers)
- Elizabeth Giguère (Canada Women’s Team)
Trainer
- Michel Therrien and Francis Bouillon (Canadians)
- Simon Gagne and Maxime Talbot (Bruins)