(Quebec) The big boss of the National Hockey League (NHL) will not be present in Quebec for the Kings’ two preseason games, even if Prime Minister François Legault had publicly invited him.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will not attend Wednesday and Saturday night games, it has been learned The Press. No other leader of the League will attend the games, which are financed with millions by the Quebec government, and which were to be used to promote the return of the NHL to the capital.
“We do very few trips during the preseason,” explained a League spokesperson, John Dellapina, to explain the absence of the big names from the Bettman circuit.
Gary Bettman was, however, publicly invited to the Videotron Center by the Prime Minister of Quebec. “We hope that Mr. Bettman will come visit us during these games-there”, launched François Legault last November, when defending the government subsidy granted for the presentation of these two matches.
“The people of Quebec, they would like to have a hockey team, they would like the Quebec Nordiques to come back,” added Mr. Legault, who was trying to justify the subsidy, which could reach seven million dollars. “We have a world-class amphitheater, National League class, and it is time for the NHL to agree to give a franchise, therefore the return of the Nordiques. »
– Further details will follow