Political pressure finally got the better of QMJHL commissioner Gilles Courteau, who resigned Sunday night. The newspaper learned that his successor had already been named and that it was Mario Cecchini.
• Read also: Gilles Courteau submits his resignation
“I am no longer the commissioner of the QMJHL,” wrote Courteau in a missive posted on his Twitter account. When you have devoted most of your life to an organization, it is difficult to realize that the time has come to pass the torch. Although it is not an easy decision to make, it is necessary. »
“In addition, recent events have taken on such proportions that my family members have suffered. To persist would have been stubbornness,” he added.
Assistant to Courteau as commissioner, Martin Lavallée will act as interim until Cecchini takes office.
DIFFICULT WEEK
Mr. Courteau is currently at the heart of a storm related to the initiation scandal in the world of hockey.
Called to testify before a parliamentary committee in Quebec on February 23, Mr. Courteau answered questions from members of the National Assembly.
These followed the revelations of Radio-Canada on the request for class action led in particular by the former NHL player Daniel Carcillo and during which violent acts during initiation rites in the Canadian Hockey League been unveiled.
In the ensuing press scrum, the circuit commissioner revealed that only one of the 20-odd affidavits in the class-action suit had been signed by QMJHL alumnus Stephen Quirk. for events occurring between 1995 and 1998.
Quirk then wore the colors of the Alpines, a team that became the Moncton Wildcats.
“And there is nothing of a sexual connotation in what is stated in his affidavit,” he assured the media.
However, it was revealed a few days later that Mr. Quirk’s teammates had taken “heated analgesic cream and they inserted it into [son] anus in [le] penetrating with their fingers. »
In interview with The newspaper Wednesday, Mr. Courteau admitted not having read all of Mr. Quirk’s sworn statement before appearing before the elected officials.
“Should I have read the entire affidavit?” Yeah and I’m sorry I didn’t,” he admitted then.
Two days later, Prime Minister François Legault had added a layer by mentioning: “It is worrying, the contradictory declarations of Mr. Courteau”.
It is not known for the moment if the former commissioner will be back before parliamentarians. This is what the Minister responsible for Sport, Isabelle Charest, as well as Pascal Bérubé, spokesperson for the Parti Québécois for sports, recreation and the outdoors, are calling for.
SUCCESSOR FOUND
Before knowing that the commissioner was going to submit his resignation, the owners of the QMJHL had voted unanimously, at the end of last week, in favor of the candidacy of Mario Cecchini, according to our information.
The latter currently holds the interim position of president of the Montreal Alouettes, a position he agreed to take over after the Canadian Football League placed the team under trusteeship and began the sale process.
Cecchini was hired as team president in January 2020. His contract was not renewed last December.
This is a bit of a surprise, because it was rather the names of personalities from the hockey world such as Marc Denis and Jocelyn Thibault who were mentioned as potential successors to Courteau.
The latter had already announced, before the scandal, his decision to retire in 2024. Note that the resignation of the commissioner is not the result of a request from the Governors of the QMJHL, who have maintained their support for the commissioner until at the end.
-With the collaboration of QMI Agency
WHAT THEY SAID
“We take note of the resignation of Mr. Courteau. We intend to work closely with his successor to ensure that the development of our young people takes place in a healthy and safe environment. »
– Isabelle Charest, Minister responsible for Sport
“It had become very clear after his passage in the parliamentary committee that Gilles Courteau no longer had the legitimacy or the room for maneuver to remain in office. I salute his decision to pass the torch immediately. »
– Vincent Marissal, solidarity manager for sports, leisure and the outdoors
“We take note of Mr. Courteau’s decision. We would still like him to be present in the parliamentary committee. We still have questions for him. »
– Pascal Bérubé, Parti Québécois spokesperson for sports, recreation and the outdoors