Exploits, defeats, controversies, novelties… A look back at the year 2022 in 25 highlights.
1. Two huge missing
They left us suddenly. On April 15, the fabulous Mike Bossy died at the age of 65. A week later, the legendary Guy Lafleur passed away at the age of 70. Quebec thus said goodbye to two of the greatest athletes in its history. Sad days, certainly, but which also highlighted all the joy that these two immense players brought to us.
2. The Swiss retiree
We had been waiting for the news for a long time, but we still felt a shock when it fell: Roger Federer ended his illustrious career, marked by sparkling successes, but above all by constant grace, on the short as in his public interactions.
3. The Quebec retiree
His inspiring journey, marked by obtaining six Olympic medals, has marked our minds. Charles Hamelin is a great among the greats. At the Beijing Games, he turned his Olympic farewell into fireworks by climbing to the top step of the podium with his teammates in the 5000m relay.
4. The American retiree… back!
In February, Tom Brady announced his retirement after winning seven Super Bowl titles. In March, he announced his return to the game for his 23rde season. In such a tough sport, that’s an almost unimaginable feat. Less dominant than in past years, we will know at the end of the calendar if it was for him the “season too many”.
5. The Champion
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, ARCHIVES LA PRESSE
Marie-Philip Poulin
Marie-Philip Poulin led the Canadian team to the women’s hockey gold medal at the Beijing Games. This earned him the title of Canada’s most outstanding athlete, a well-deserved honor. No hockey player had yet won this prestigious award. She then broke a glass ceiling at the Canadiens by being appointed player development consultant.
6. The end of the dream
When Major League Baseball discarded the idea of a Tampa Bay-Montreal joint custody team, the dream of a team returning to Quebec came to an end. The hope will have lasted ten years. But in the end, Stephen Bronfman and his group realized that the business did not hold water financially. The Expos will never come back.
7. The worst sports federation in Canada…
They took a while to figure it out, but at least Hockey Canada’s top executives finally quit. These people gave us a sad spectacle for months and did immense harm to the sport in their care. Kudos to Federal Sports Minister Pascale St-Onge for keeping the pressure on them.
8. …and the second!
Soccer Canada did little to shine, including hosting a men’s national team preseason game against Iran. In the face of outcry, including those of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the deal had to be called off. Not to mention the thorny issue of compensation paid to players who represent the country on the international scene. Elite soccer has made giant leaps in Canada, but the federation is struggling to adjust to this change. We have also seen it with deeply deficient press relations.
9. The new president
CF Montreal was right in entrusting the presidency of the team to Gabriel Gervais. The former player, who has become an excellent manager, has softened the image of the organization, battered by the terrible decisions of the previous administration. However, many challenges remain. How to increase the notoriety of the team when good players are sold to European clubs? Yes, the CF pockets compensation money. But fans don’t buy tickets to applaud the financial record.
10. Finish the season strong
PHOTO THOMAS COEX, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Felix Auger-Aliassime (center)
This is the success of Félix Auger-Aliassime this fall. He won three consecutive victories in indoor tournaments, in addition to serving as general for the victorious Canadian team in the Davis Cup final. Impressive.
11. The End of an Era
After more than 20 years, Eugène Lapierre has left the management of the great annual tennis tournament at Jarry Park. Through all the changes in the professional sports industry, he has stayed the course with panache. Montreal can say thank you to him. We will miss his always interesting press briefings.
12. The 50e anniversary
The heroes of the Series of the Century had planned extraordinary festivities to mark the 50e anniversary of the victory of Canada’s best hockey players against their Soviet rivals in 1972. Russian aggression in Ukraine prevented a major reunion between players from both sides. This did not prevent beautiful celebrations in Canada.
13. Golf Conflict
Who would have imagined that professional golf would experience such heartbreak in 2022? The arrival of the LIV Golf Tour, funded by Saudi interests, has caused a major conflict with the PGA. Accusations, counter-accusations, the developments were numerous. In the final analysis, players have never received so much money, regardless of the circuit in which they evolve.
14. Resilience
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, ARCHIVES LA PRESSE
Maxence Parrot
After battling cancer, windsurfer Maxence Parrot crowned his comeback by winning two medals at the Beijing Games, one gold and the other bronze. “Three years ago I was in my hospital bed,” he told reporters after his slopestyle win. “I had to do 12 chemotherapy treatments. I lost my cardio, my muscles, my energy. Maxence Parrot embodies resilience.
15. Long Track Achievements
Canada’s long track skaters have done a great job in Beijing. Ivanie Blondin, Valérie Maltais and Isabelle Weidemann won gold in the team pursuit. She also won silver in the 5000m and bronze in the 3000m. This earned him the honor of carrying the Canadian flag at the closing ceremony.
16. Novak and Australia
The year began with the soap opera Novak Djokovic, intercepted by the authorities on his arrival in Melbourne for the Australian Open. Refusing the vaccine against COVID-19, an essential condition then for a visitor wishing to be admitted to this country, he tried to play finesse in a lamentable way. After a few days of detention and legal developments, Djokovic left Australian territory. No way for him to participate in the collective effort against the pandemic.
17. A Sad Leader
FIFA President Gianni Infantino meets journalists at the start of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. My colleague Alexandre Pratt, who was present, wrote that he had never attended such an “absurd” press conference. Infantino has embarked on an all-out defense of Qatar, a country where foreign workers have built stadiums in miserable conditions. “Crucify me,” he said. Do not criticize Qatar. »
Phew! as the other would say.
18. The Declaration
PHOTO ANTONIN THUILLIER, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Canada coach John Herdman speaking to his players
In announcing that Canada would kick the Croats behind before the World Cup clash between the two countries, John Herdman was a bit too enthusiastic. But in fact, this statement by the coach Canadian did nothing to change this final defeat. Croatia were too strong for Canada and their third place in the final standings showed it.
19. Feeling
At the age of 19, Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz won the US Open and finished the season ranked No. 1 in the world rankings. This young man has taken tennis by storm and his spectacular style has won him fans all over the world.
20. The Humanist
Poland’s Iga Świątek has won the French Open and the US Open, in addition to being No. 1 in the world. She also uses her platform to show her solidarity with Ukraine, a neighboring country.
21. Experience? Why exactly?
Martin St-Louis had never led a high-level team before settling behind the bench of the Canadian. He quickly demonstrated that the experience in coaching is not a prerequisite for success as a NHL coach. A solid hockey mind, a gift for communication and an ability to listen also do the trick.
22. Action in July
For the first time since 2009, the NHL Draft took place in Montreal this year. The CH, holder of the first choice, caused a surprise by choosing the Slovak Juraj Slafkovsky.
The team also concluded two trades which enabled it to welcome forward Kirby Dach from the Chicago Blackhawks. In short, there was plenty of action and we really felt the impact of the new management. The CH also respected its tradition by turning its nose up at the players of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for as long as possible.
23. Two Giants
PHOTO NATACHA PISARENKO, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe
The first, the Argentinian Lionel Messi, is 35 years old; the second, Frenchman Kylian Mbappé, has 24. These two giants put on a great show during the FIFA World Cup, the final of which was a huge sporting moment.
24. The CH jersey
Advertising on the CH jersey. The pressure in this direction has been strong for a long time, but its realization still represents a certain shock. More proof that professional sports will stop at nothing to rake in an extra dollar.
25. Return of the Grand Prix
After being canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, Montreal has regained its Canadian Grand Prix on Île Notre-Dame. Formula 1 has never been so popular and its leaders can thank Netflix, which has increased the number of fans with its behind-the-scenes shows of this often fascinating universe.