After weeks of pressure, the commissioner of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (LHJMQ), Gilles Courteau, announced Sunday afternoon that he had submitted his resignation. This announcement comes as the QMJHL is splashed with allegations of sexual abuse against players during initiation activities.
In a press release posted on his Twitter account, Mr. Courteau admitted that his “journey has not been without fault, but it has been guided by the desire to give the best of [soi]- even young people. He had been in office for 37 years, and his term was due to expire in 2024.
“Even though it’s not an easy decision to make, it has to be made. In addition, recent events have taken on such proportions that my family members have suffered. To persist would have been stubbornness. »
Today, I communicated with Mr. Richard Létourneau, president of the executive committee of the @QMJHL, to announce my resignation, effective immediately. After devoting my life to the league, it’s time for me to bow out and pass the torch. pic.twitter.com/uq70W2jVDZ
— Gilles Courteau (@gcourteauhockey) March 5, 2023
“Mr. Martin Lavallée, the current assistant commissioner, will assume the position of interim commissioner of the QMJHL,” the league said in a press release. “Recall that a recruitment process for the appointment of a new commissioner was already in place in recent weeks. This process, which is at the final stage, is continuing its course. An announcement will be made later. »
The owners of the League will meet tomorrow “to discuss the next steps, in particular with regard to the actions to be taken in terms of player safety. The complaint process should also be discussed during this meeting.
flip-flop
Recall that a judgment of the Superior Court of Ontario, first publicized by Radio-Canada, revealed in February that about twenty players who played in junior hockey leagues – including the QMJHL – claim to have been raped. and other abuses during initiation activities.
Invited to a parliamentary committee at the request of the provincial political parties, Mr. Courteau had affirmed that “none of the situations listed in the article involved a team from the QMJHL”, which turned out to be false. Mr. Courteau retracted and apologized afterwards. A few days ago, the newspaper The Press revealed that Mr. Courteau had admitted under oath in 2021 that he had seen “problems” with orientation activities.
Invited to appear again in parliamentary committee last week, Mr. Courteau had complied while indicating his intention to remain in office. Again last Thursday, in an interview with The duty, he was clear: “I am not resigning. »
With Francois Carabin