(Tampa) The news of Jocelyn Thibault’s departure resonated even with the Canadian, in this region of Florida called Tampa Bay.
Thus, the Canadian’s assistant coach Stéphane Robidas also expressed his disappointment at seeing his friend leave the general management of Hockey Quebec in such a premature and unexpected manner.
“It’s sure it’s sad for Hockey Quebec,” Robidas explained Friday after the Canadian’s training in the suburbs of Tampa. Jocelyn is a friend… he’s a guy who got involved in the world of hockey, and who did it for the right reasons. He did a lot for minor hockey, he wanted to get involved to help Hockey Quebec, and he did a good job during the two years he was there. It’s sad to see him go, but he also has to think of himself. »
At the heart of this decision, we recall, would be a fairly significant conflict with several of the leaders of the regional associations who, it seems, were recalcitrant in the face of what Thibault had been trying to put in place for a year.
This impasse reached its conclusion with the departure of the former Canadian goalkeeper on Thursday. A situation which Stéphane Robidas regrets.
PHOTO FROM THE MONTRÉAL CANADIEN WEBSITE
Stéphane Robidas, assistant coach of the Canadian
We must never forget why young people play hockey: to have fun.
Stéphane Robidas
“There are different categories in hockey. It’s not always about playing in the NHL; there are some who just want to have fun, just want to go on the ice, and that’s okay. They don’t necessarily want to improve, and there’s nothing wrong with that. There are others who want to be competitive, and that’s okay too.
“There are good coaches, good organizations… but like in any environment, there is good and there is less good. It is certain that we focus a lot more on the negative; I think that good things are happening in the world of minor hockey, there have been good years of hockey in Quebec, including the 2003 ones which won the Canada Games, with guys like Joshua Roy. »
While waiting to know what happens next, Stéphane Robidas believes that things can no longer continue like this in the world of minor hockey, and he is certainly not the only one.
“It’s certain that there are things to change, things that we would like to improve,” he added. But I don’t know the answers. »