The Hockey Quebec offices have been buzzing with ideas for several months. The provincial federation is working on the development of its next strategic plan, the broad outlines of which it wishes to unveil somewhere next June, with an idea in mind, maintains its general director, Jocelyn Thibault: “We know that we must improve in the development of our players.”
For several months, the provincial development committee, made up of representatives from the QMJHL, the Quebec M18 AAA League, the Quebec Student Sports Network (RSEQ) and the Junior AAA League, has been meeting to set up this new plan, lasting five years, and aimed at reforming several aspects of the development of our national sport.
In November, Radio-Canada revealed that Thibault and Hockey Québec were very attached to the idea of creating a national men’s and women’s development program, bringing together the best players of a certain age group, somewhat like what the American national development program has been doing for several years.
A way of doing things to establish
A project which is still in the works, but the way to develop it remains under discussion. After all, the implementation of such a program would disrupt the current way of doing things.
“We have a lot of discussions with our partner leagues who are also in development mode. Everyone is aware that we are undoing old ways of doing things, but we are all working in the same direction. Now, what form will this take? Will it be a permanent or semi-permanent team? I don’t know yet,” says Thibault.
The latter obviously gives the American example, which annually brings together the best 16 and 17 year old players within a centralized program, and these teams play all season against junior teams from the USHL or from the various American colleges of the NCAA, in addition to participating in different international competitions.
In Finland, coaches are paid year-round by the Federation but the players are not grouped together all season, like in the United States. They meet a few times a year for special events.
A broader look
What Hockey Quebec hopes is to be able to supervise the development of players in the province for as long as possible.
“After all, the finger is always pointed at us. So, as long as we are being singled out, we might as well have the broadest possible look at the development of our players, especially up to the age of 15 or 16, very important years of development,” adds the head of the federation.
As such, things will inevitably have to change. Should we change the eligibility age for the QMJHL to 17, rather than 16, in order to allow them to obtain quality minutes before making the jump to junior?
It’s a possibility, although Thibault assures that he is not against the fact that 16-year-old players play in the QMJHL.
“I’m not against 16-year-old players in the QMJHL, but I’m against 16-year-old players in the QMJHL who don’t play, and it’s the same thing for 15-year-old players at the U18 AAA level. They have to play. Awareness has been made at this level on the part of the leaders.”
Among other possible solutions, Thibault is campaigning for a Canadian men’s under-16 championship to be held each year. Currently, the only national tournament held for this age group is the Canada Games, held once every four years.
So three out of four cohorts do not have the chance to participate.