It’s not exactly the return from leave that Danny Maciocia was expecting. Returning Tuesday from his winter vacation, he was at the office Wednesday for the dinner meeting between the team’s coaching staff and members of the media.
In fact, things are going so fast that at the time of talking to the journalists, he had not yet met his new boss, Pierre Karl Péladeau. The new team owner had mentioned it in a press briefing, but the conversation the two men had was rudimentary, the communication being scrambled because Maciocia was on a cruise.
“It was a conversation that lasted three, four minutes, admitted the GM of the Alouettes, Wednesday noon, on the sidelines of a rather convivial lunch. We understood that we were going to exchange emails and text messages while waiting. I can’t wait to meet him in person. »
Anyway, it doesn’t take long to scratch to realize that everyone in the team’s offices is breathing better now that the team has a proper owner, and is no longer under the guardianship of the Canadian League.
The staff, we all said to ourselves: “well, we have a bit of wind in our sails”. You are in uncertainty, the players live it, feel it, with good reason. The coaches feel it, with good reason. You had a lot of negative attention around the Alouettes, but we have people who are struggling, who just want it to work. It’s fun that these people feel that we have help.
Byron Archambault, Special Units Coordinator
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Alouettes special teams coordinator Byron Archambault
“But it had to be ‘business as usual’ in the meantime, otherwise we would have lost everyone during the free agents. So we had to work twice as hard, because we knew we were going to play games next season. »
Archambault mentions free agents because the period of uncertainty before the arrival of the new owner coincided with the opening of the market on February 14. In the days leading up to it, the team had their hands tied. Coincidence or not, the Alouettes lost quarterback Trevor Harris and receivers Eugene Lewis and Jake Wieneke, who took advantage of their autonomy to lift the markers.
“What was difficult was that the uncertainty came at the worst time, during free agency,” confirmed the Alouettes’ new head coach, Jason Maas.
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
The new Alouettes head coach, Jason Maas
The team tried to close the loopholes, including coming to terms with quarterback Cody Fajardo and receiver Greg Ellingson, but the instability was nonetheless disturbing.
That’s why the arrival of a new owner is greeted with a sigh of relief. Luc Brodeur-Jourdain, member of the organization as a player, then as a coach, since 2019, knows something about it.
“I’ve been through ups and downs here, and it’s good to know that we’re owned by a local guy who’s ready to put his shoulder to the wheel, but the wallet too, recalled the offensive line coach. He’s a guy who understands that it’s an important organization in Quebec. To still be under the tutelage of the league, it was disappointing. Not that we felt that our jobs were at risk, because we were assured that we were going ahead, that the league covered our costs, that it was “business as usual”. But since I arrived with the Alouettes, I have always seen a reduction in staff and budgets. We always had less. And for a week, we have more. »
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Alouettes offensive line coach Luc Brodeur-Jourdain
The importance of local interests
For the first time since the return of the Alouettes in 1996, the team is therefore owned by Quebec interests.
“It makes all the difference in the world, believes Maciocia. When you come from the place, whether you are an owner, GM or player, it comes with pride. I worked in Edmonton for nine years. I can’t say that I wasn’t proud to be part of it. But it’s not the same pride as for the Montreal Alouettes.
“It’s stability, it’s so important, adds the DG. We haven’t really experienced that lately, there were more subjects off the pitch than on the pitch! Mr. Péladeau has had a lot of success, he is a proud Montrealer, a proud Quebecer, he has ties with the province. We are really motivated. His way of expressing himself has inspired many people in our office. There is work to be done, but we are relieved. »
One last pending case
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Former Alouettes president Mario Cecchini and Jason Maas
Now that the team has changed hands, it will need a president. The former head, Mario Cecchini, recently appointed commissioner of the QMJHL, also came to have a look on Wednesday, but his succession is still not formalized. “It’s important that it gets sorted out,” agreed Maciocia. What is important, and we share this with Mr. Péladeau, is that we have to be aligned, that we share the same vision, the same values. If we are well aligned, we can dream of winning on the field and having success off the field. Recall that the name of Annie Larouche, vice-president of operations for the Montreal Alliance and former employee of the Alouettes for 25 years, is one of those who have circulated in recent days.