DENVER | Those who still have hope of seeing an NHL team in Quebec in the near future can stop dreaming. Unless Eric Girard, the provincial finance minister managed to convince Wayne Gretzky to pull Gary Bettman’s ear.
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Nothing had really transpired from the meeting between Eric Girard and Gary Bettman, held on May 19 in New York. Passing through the Big Apple to meet investors from American banks, Mr. Girard took the opportunity to make a detour to the offices of the NHL and keep, it seems, the channels of communication open.
A courtesy meeting that Mr. Girard had himself described as “extremely positive”.
On the sidelines of the first game of the Stanley Cup final, which took place last night in Denver, the commissioner of the NHL and his assistant, Bill Daly, devoted themselves to their traditional press briefing. A golden opportunity to find out what had happened between the four walls of the building on 9th Avenue for Mr. Girard to come back so delighted.
“Actually, I have to split this meeting into two parts,” Bettman said when asked about it by this writer. The first was to reiterate that there was nothing new about a team returning to Quebec or about the idea of holding games there. [de saison régulière].”
“The second, and it’s probably the one he found most exciting, was when, by chance, Wayne Gretzky showed up in the building. I know that Mr. Minister is a big fan of hockey. So I asked Wayne to come into the office and meet the minister. He and Wayne were able to have a great discussion.”
And the time was apparently not for a session worthy of the great seduction.
“They exchanged small talk [small talks]Bettman said.
Nothing new with the Senses
By mentioning possible regular season games played in the Old Capital, Bettman was referring to this rumor conveyed at the end of March according to which some Senators games could be played at the Videotron Center.
“Yes, the idea was floated, but it never came close to materializing. It was nothing that Eugene Melnyk endorsed or came close to doing,” Bettman said.
In addition, he assures that the concession of the federal capital is always stable, despite the death of its owner, on March 28.
“Mr. Melnyk bequeathed the claim to his daughters. It works in the normal course of things. I know the Senators are involved in a process to see if there might be an opportunity to build a new amphitheater on LeBreton Flats. Nothing has changed.”
Gang rape under investigation
In a completely different register, MM. Daly and Bettman said they are active in the gang rape scandal that has rocked Hockey Canada for the past few weeks.
“We are in contact with the NHL Players Association. So far, the association has been very cooperative in organizing and facilitating the interviews we conduct with each of the players. [qui évoluait au sein] of this team,” Daly said. Of course, we are also in contact with Hockey Canada. So the process is on its way.”
Recall that on May 26, TSN journalist Rick Westhead revealed that Hockey Canada had settled an alleged gang rape involving eight junior hockey players who assaulted a young woman after a gala held by the organization, in June 2018.
Asked how long the NHL knew about this story, Bettman replied, “Exactly when the lawsuit was filed. We didn’t know until then. We have allegations from one anonymous party against eight anonymous parties. It is a difficult situation. But we didn’t know until then.”