LEVIS | The man who is now Hockey Quebec’s big boss was once a promising young goaltender chosen by the Nordiques in front of a cheering crowd in the repechage in the middle of the Quebec Coliseum. As a sign that time is running out, Jocelyn Thibault remembers the 30th anniversary of this event today.
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It was June 26, 1993, a scorching hot day. Funny twist of fate, because yesterday, on the putting green of the Lévis golf course, where he was present as part of the Omnium des Celebrities, Thibault immersed himself in his memories, once again under the blazing sun. .
“It feels like it was yesterday. It was very hot that day. I had the same agent [Pierre Lacroix] that Alexandre Daigle and I had been his roommates for the whole week of Repechage.
“He was the first choice and in my case you never know which team it will be, even though I suspected I would be eliminated in the first round. I remember, of course, when Pierre Pagé took the stage, people were calling my name,” Thibault recalls.
A crucial moment
Thibault then secured a spot at Quebec City the following fall, where he only played two seasons before the team headed to Colorado. He played 586 NHL games, including 238 wins with the Nordiques (and Avalanche), Canadiens, Blackhawks, Penguins and Sabers.
Still, in his eyes, the hopeful run in front of the ardent supporters of Quebec remains a high point.
“When I got drafted into the NHL, it hit me and I was like, ‘Okay, I just got here,'” he explained.
Especially since, looking back, he had not expected such a result, even though he was aware that the Nordiques had courted him in the weeks leading up to the auction.
“For me, the Nordiques, it was a bit of a surprise. From what I remember it was one of the teams that expressed the most interest for me, but I found it strange because they were full of young goalkeepers. I had a hunch it could happen but I didn’t see why they should get another goalkeeper,” he said.
I’m happy for Katherine Henderson
Additionally, Thibault, in his capacity as General Manager of Hockey Quebec, is excited about the idea of working with Katherine Henderson, who has just been appointed Head of Hockey Canada. She is the first woman to hold the position of President and CEO.
“It’s part of the movement and change of the typical hockey admin that we’ve known for 40, 50 years. We’ll get on the train and Hockey Quebec will be there for you.