There’s more to life than just hockey! Anyone who is not quite so young remembers this statement by Stéphane Richer. The former number 44 knew his words would land on his face when he said those words to me during his second spell with the Canadian. Let’s see if a hockey player can talk like that, let’s see!
• Also read: Francis Bouillon and Rob Ramage have never had so much fun
On the contrary, Rob Ramage, director of youth development for the Canadiens organization, believes that players should not focus their lives exclusively on hockey.
“Sometimes it gets too hard,” he adds.
“Players can stay engaged with hockey 24 hours a day, seven days a week by following traditional media and social media. Sometimes you have to find a way to escape.
“Having constant attention puts a lot of strain on your shoulders. Especially for the youngest. Sometimes they need to change their minds and become interested in other things. »
The money factor
Ramage says that, contrary to popular belief, young players take their careers very seriously. And there is a good reason for that.
“That’s probably because there’s a lot of money to be made,” he argues.
This aspect – and many others – is part of the discussions that Ramage and his working partner Francis Bouillon have with the players they advise.
Ramage also uses a lot of humor when describing himself to them.
“See me as Uncle Buck!” he tells them.
Uncle Buck is that hilarious character played by the late John Candy in the film The Long Quiet River, the French version of Uncle Buck.