The news came like it was completely normal and there was nothing to complain about. No player from Quebec or any other French-speaking province participates in the National Hockey League All-Star Weekend. Zero among the 44 selected players! This is a first. It’s an aberration!
In this case, how to explain to those who invoke the selection rules that a dozen Russian players are taking part in the event, while their presence in sports competitions worldwide is disputed because of the war their country is waging against Ukraine?
People at the National League’s Hockey Operations branch, who are being asked to choose 32 players after the popular vote in which a dozen players are chosen by the public, could have felt a little embarrassed.
That they did not select a single Quebec player among the fifty players in the NHL is an insult and a lack of respect for the players, fans, sponsors and Quebec partners of their circuit.
Renaud Lavoie has to resort to Jim Montgomery to do interviews in French for TVA Sports.
Isn’t the All Star Game a hockey party?
If all teams have to be represented, wouldn’t it be appropriate to also represent as many nationalities as possible?
For conscientious objectors, yes, Quebec is different from the rest of Canada.
Bowman’s idea
Why was Patrice Bergeron ignored?
Several players who are close to retirement have already been invited in recognition of their contribution to hockey.
Scotty Bowman introduced the practice when he selected Gordie Howe to the Prince of Wales Association team for the latter’s final season in 1979/80.
The season marked Howe’s return to the NHL after seven seasons in the World Conference and coincided with the game being played in Detroit, where Howe had played the first 25 seasons of his career with the Red Wings.
The crowd that had gathered at the Joe Louis Arena, which had just opened its doors, gave him a huge ovation.
Bergeron should have been there
NHL thinkers weren’t doomed to do this for Bergeron, who could be in his final season.
No one will dispute the choice of David Pastrnak to represent the Bruins, but it would have been a great opportunity to pay tribute to the great ambassador Bergeron is for the NHL.
The L’Ancienne-Lorette player is still worth his weight in gold on the ice. His 38 points (18-20) in 51 games put him fourth in Bruins scoring.
He still leads the league in faceoffs with a 61.3% save percentage and ranks fourth in the plus-21 ranking.
And dubos?
Another Quebec player who could be invited is Pierre-Luc Dubois, who is on course to have the best season of his career. The Winnipeg Jets forward is averaging a point a game after 52 games.
Preference was given to defender Josh Morrissey, who is also doing well with 53 points in 52 games.
Good for him, but Dubois was just as deserving.
If a slugger like John Scott attended the annual meeting in 2016, there had to be a player capable of representing Quebec in Florida that weekend.
The more it changes, the more it is the same!
With that other story, how can we not believe the National League isn’t interested in returning to Quebec?
