For the development of Quebec hockey players to improve sufficiently, the problem will have to be tackled at the root by making sure to give better options to young people aged 17 and 18.
This is one of the recommendations of the Quebec Committee on the Development of Hockey in Quebec, which submitted its long-awaited report on Thursday, after several months of consultation with a varied group of experts from several branches of the Belle Province.
The chairman of this committee, former National League goalkeeper Marc Denis, presented the report’s conclusions at a press conference. These revolve a lot around optimizing talent development, as 17-year-old players often find themselves in a gray area. Few young people of this age reach the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
We are thus proposing new solutions for the U18s, but also for the 15 and 16 year olds, who deserve to evolve in separate leagues rather than together at the midget hopeful level. On the other hand, we want to stay away from the American development program for under-18s, which is only effective for about forty privileged players.
In this sense, the regional technical advisors would play a major role in all corners of Quebec to facilitate learning. They would allow players to reach their full potential within Quebec structures, believes the Committee.
University programs to be developed
Of the 35 university programs in men’s hockey, only three are from Quebec and only one is French-speaking. The Patriotes of the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, reigning Canadian champions, represent the province wonderfully, but they are alone at the top.
Access to hockey from a young age, in particular by including learning to skate in elementary school, would also make it possible to reach a wider clientele. Marc Denis is of the opinion that the sport is taken seriously too early and that the pleasure of playing leads to better retention of young people.
The Quebec Committee on the Development of Hockey in Quebec has submitted its ideas for women’s hockey, where it hopes to achieve parity of opportunities. Para hockey would also benefit from a partial overhaul of the system.
This report was filed with the government on April 22, with a follow-up request. Denis is hopeful that he will not be “shelf” quickly and that the former members of the Committee will continue to work hard to have their ideas adopted.