“It is clear that the link we have with hockey is not healthy,” writes Marc-André Leclerc in his book Hockey defeatedpublished this week by Éditions du Journal.
• Also read: Book | “Hockey defeated”: 20 speakers from the world of sport explain why our hockey is sick
• Also read: Book | “Hockey defeated”: 16-year-olds hundreds of kilometers from their parents
Throughout his work (about which you can learn more ici), the author highlights the testimonies of 20 speakers from the world of sport with whom he spoke.
The findings are not entirely gloomy. For many, playing hockey, or another sport, has proven to be educational for the rest of their lives.
But the fact remains that certain examples cited in the book are proof that our national sport is sick.
Agents who exercise control over families
Himself a player’s agent, Dominic De Blois is saddened to see some of his colleagues promising sticks and even cars to the families of hockey players whom they target as potential clients.
“Parents will be offered reimbursement of expenses, sticks, etc. I come with a good conscience and say that I will give them good advice to supervise their son, but I pay nothing. There are agencies whose business model is to pay. When I started, there were agents who offered cars. There was a lot of crap like that behind closed doors. It’s not a healthy relationship, it’s to exert some control over the family.”
The kings of school from 12 years old and teachers who know the rankings
Jérôme Gravel loved his time in the QMJHL, which he describes as very educational. But he remembers that, even years before, the fact that he played hockey set him apart from his classmates. “It’s a bit where the culture of hockey begins to take root,” points out the former Titan, Voltigeurs and Tigres.
“Hockey is our national sport, it is very well regarded. We become the kings of the school, we are in the cafeteria and we talk about the recruitment list. The teachers are also aware that a player is supposed to be excellent. It’s really omnipresent, exciting and sad for some. […] In sixth grade, we were the six little 12-year-olds who went to practice while the others stayed in school. So we felt lucky, we had privileged treatment.”
Deprived of ice time by racist coach
Like Jérôme Gravel, Francis Verreault-Paul has fond memories of his years in Quebec major junior hockey. But an episode of racism, experienced when he was younger, in pee-wee BB, still haunts the hockey player of Innu origin.
Francis Verreault-Paul with the Saguenéens. – Archive photo
“It was painful. It was pure racism. That was really it. We were four players [originaires de Mashteuiatsh et d’Opitciwan] from First Nations on the same team. I was known for being an offensive player. Basically, the coach had made the First Nations trio. We didn’t play much. My role was completely erased. He made senseless remarks. It’s been a difficult year.”
Sport has become about performance and competition
Christian Leclerc is president of the Federation of Physical Educators and Teachers of Quebec. He is saddened to see young people tell him that they don’t like sport, because they don’t feel an absolute desire to win.
“The young people […] tell me they don’t want to win. They just want to feel pleasure. […] When I ask my students for synonyms of the word sportthey tell me: performance, competition and victory. That’s sport today.”
Very hard to finish CEGEP due to busy schedules
Agent Dominic De Blois wonders if it would not be preferable for QMJHL players to follow their CEGEP courses remotely. In Quebec, they must show up in class. Which is complicated and demanding, underlines Mr. De Blois, due to the busy schedule during the season.
Dominic De Blois – Photo taken from the X account of Dominic De Blois
“When a young person signs a professional contract, very often they drop out of school and their parents agree with that. What’s the point of doing three classes in a session when you’re missing twelve? The young person will not finish his CEGEP. I don’t like doing this, but you have no choice but to tell him not to go to school. If you don’t play in the QMJHL until you’re 20 and you sign a professional contract, it’s impossible to finish your CEGEP, it’s very rare.
Hand broken twice by fights in junior
Even if he “owes everything to hockey,” former Canadian tough guy Dave Morissette deplores having been confined to a brawling role from his junior career (read ici). He remembers that in his second year in the QMJHL, he broke his hand twice. “At this moment, we can read in Le hockey miss en échec, his coach, Joe Hardy, systematically sends him to the ice at the end of the game, with the role in which he is now confined.
“No offense to Joe Hardy, but it was insane. I can’t believe you’re sending a 16-year-old guy to fight,” the man who is now a presenter mentions in the book.
Coaches don’t necessarily have the right approach
For Dany Bernard, psychologist and founder of the hockey sports-studies program in Quebec, practicing sports at school is not a “miracle recipe”. He questions the quality of coaches who are active with young people.
“Sports at school are cronyism. Just because you play sports at school doesn’t mean the coaches will have the right approach. […] Often, we will hire former players who come from the subculture of the sport. They will therefore reproduce what they have experienced in their lives.
Negative parents increasingly present in the stands
Gabriel Grégoire, who has been a referee for several years, notes that the climate in the stands of the minor hockey matches for which he officiates has deteriorated after the pandemic.
“Not because there are fewer parents who behave well, but it seems that those who move negative air are more present or they stand out more. Behaviors are more direct. They come to see us.”
The NHL dream and intolerant parents
Jocelyn Thibault believes that the dream of the NHL is still omnipresent among many young hockey players and parents. The former general director of Hockey Quebec – and ex-Canadien goalie – also believes that some parents are too protective.
Jocelyn Thibault
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Photo d’archives, Pierre-Paul Poulin
“We should play hockey for the same reasons we take guitar lessons or take ski lessons on Saturday morning. To learn skills, to have fun, and then if you make it to the National League, great. […] Parents do not tolerate their children experiencing adversity. So I think that also plays into the equation.”
A less packed circuit for the benefit of another
Host and comedian Jean-François Baril is the father of a QMJHL hockey player, Nathan, who is playing this season with the Val-d’Or Foreurs.
Mr. Baril wonders if there are not too many 16-year-olds in the major junior circuit (read ici) and believes that Quebec hockey would not benefit from seeing more players play one more season in midget AAA, which he describes as “an excellent league”.
«[Nathan] didn’t want to play midget AAA. He looked at his other first-round buddies who made the team and he wanted to be a part of them. He said, “I’m not in favor of going to play midget AAA.” All the good players were no longer there. If more players stayed in that league, the competition would be stronger in midget AAA and that would make everyone want to play there.”
