Another year comes to an end. The older we get, the faster things move! That's how it is, that's life.
Every year that passes brings us a lot of stories. I picked a few from our world of sports just to meditate a bit.
All-Star Game without Quebecers
The absence of Quebec players from the last NHL All-Star Game – a first in history – is a clear indicator of the decline in our player pool in the best hockey league in the world. And nothing says it won't happen again next year. There is only one Quebecer among the NHL's top 100 scorers. Jonathan Marchessault of the Vegas Golden Knights, winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy last June, was ranked 77th before last night's games. Sean Couturier of the Philadelphia Flyers was ranked 115th. However, the latter does not consider himself Quebecois, even though he played for the Drummondville Voltigeurs for three years. He was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and prefers to say he is a New Brunswicker because Hockey Quebec denied him a waiver to play at the bantam level in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. His family left Quebec to settle in New Brunswick, where his father Sylvain is now general manager of the Cape Breton Eagles. Among defensemen, Mike Matheson of the Canadiens ranked 17th in offense and Kristopher Letang of the Pittsburgh Penguins ranked 45th in offense. Samuel Montembeault ranked 31st in wins with seven, 26th in save percentage with a .911 average and 29th in goals allowed average with a 2.79 pg average. He is the first Quebecer in all three categories, but his progress is impressive. But there is still reason to be amazed. Is our ice hockey in danger? Recruiters argue that the ban on fighting in the QMJHL works against Quebec County players in the NHL draft. It's funny, but even in American and European hockey they don't value fighting.
The missing link
The Canadian's disappointment of the year was his failure to win Connor Bedard's lottery. The reconstruction phase would have changed with the acquisition of a player of Bedard's caliber. Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield are good players, but they lack that certain something to be dominant players. It's been a long time since we've seen a player like Bedard with the Habs. That is, without regard to Carey Price, who led his team as far as he could during his 15 seasons in Montreal. Because a hitter is usually an attacker. Sometimes a defender can fill that role, but Bobby Orrs doesn't run the street. They say you shouldn't live in the past, but since Guy Lafleur, no Canadiens player has wowed the crowds in Montreal like he did. That's sorely missing in a hockey market like ours. It's like the Yankees and Dodgers don't have star players.
The return of the year
At the same time last year, I headlined a column: “The Alouettes are in disarray.” The day before Jason Maas was hired as head coach, Danny Maciocia was questioned from all sides about the team's ownership. On paper, Gary Stern was the owner, but he hadn't been seen anywhere in months. The team was in danger again. In January, it fell back under the supervision of the Canadian Football League for the second time in four years. Then, in March, Pierre Karl Péladeau came onto the scene and bought the dealership. What followed was a metamorphosis that no one had dared to hope for. From September 23rd to November 19th the Alouettes could only win. Winning the Gray Cup game felt like a breath of fresh air. The recovery work is not yet complete, but for the first time in several years we feel that the organization is moving in the right direction. Mark Weightman brought the team back into the community. Cap!
Started as champion!
Being the great champion that he is, Patrick Roy left his position as general manager and head coach of the Quebec Remparts with glory. Although we can say that his career in the Quebec Junior Hockey League was marked by spicy episodes, he was an asset to the scene. Perhaps the best leader in QMJHL history. Try to find a former Quebec National League player returning home after his career and giving back to his sport and his community. What awaits him now? After seeing him at Pierre Turgeon's induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in November, I can tell you he's feeling very good. And if there was tension between him and Joe Sakic, as we heard after his hasty exit from Colorado, that's a thing of the past. The two toasted happily and said goodbye with a warm hug after the celebrations. Will we see Roy behind the Ottawa Senators bench? It didn't work out for that. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't happen. However, Roy would be the perfect man to lead this team. It would bring what this organization lacks, namely credibility and visibility.
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In contrast to Roy, Gilles Courteau experienced a career end that pushed his great achievements during his 37 years of service in the QMJHL into the background. The 65-year-old paid a high price for the degrading initiation rituals that plagued the scene for decades. The managers and coaches who knew about these stories should also have stood up or imposed severe sanctions. Parents do not entrust their children to junior teams to suffer physical abuse that leads to psychological distress. Still, Courteau had to do good to stay in office for so long. This includes the scholarship donation program for players who apply for a scholarship after their junior career. The allocated amount is $6,000 for each year played, meaning the total can rise to $24,000 for those who have played four seasons. Courteau also served as project manager for expansions in Abitibi, Bas-Saint-Laurent, North Shore and Maritimes.
A social plague
Would you like to find out more about the Olympic Stadium? The fencing has just been closed to allow reconnaissance work to be carried out on the stadium site. Necessary operation, let us point it out. This closure will notably force CF Montreal to play its opening game at Saputo Stadium, which cannot take place until April. Therefore, the team has to play several games abroad before they can perform in front of their fans. At the beginning of the year we found out that in addition to the tarpaulin, the technical ring also needed to be replaced. The cost of this operation would be between 750 million and one billion, according to La Presse. If that was all, then that was it. The stadium needs a complete renovation to bring it up to code, and even that wouldn't be enough to attract a major baseball or National League soccer team. The Legault government and Mayor Plante want the stadium to be preserved. It's legitimate, but it requires renters who are capable of hosting multiple events per year. While the place is a major tourist attraction, it is a social nuisance for Quebec taxpayers. Such a waste!