Hockey Quebec presented Thursday, at the Bell Center, the week “Restore Hockey”. A week dedicated to respect and integrity in the world of hockey. All the players in the field have decided to move in the same direction.
Posted at 6:50 p.m.
In this initiative, which will take place from October 24 to 29, Hockey Quebec wishes to “restore the culture and return to the basics”.
Hockey has had bad press recently and the most important sports federation in the province hopes that all its artisans, who gravitate around the sport from near or far, are aware and equipped to deal with the desired cultural change.
The idea is to “send a strong message”, while “improving its initial state”.
During “Restore Hockey” week, Hockey Québec will present educational content to its members in order to raise their awareness of various issues related to integrity, inclusion and diversity. Everything will be done with the help of Sport’Aide.
PHOTO PAUL DIONNE SPECIAL COLLABORATION, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
The president of Sport’Aide, Sylvain Croteau
Its president, Sylvain Croteau, was also present at the press conference. For his organization, which has existed for five years now, it was essential to contribute to this Hockey Quebec initiative to “educate, raise awareness and meet the community. »
Mr. Croteau believes “that we have to talk to each other”, because “it is a responsibility. »
Sport’Aide exists to ensure a healthy and safe environment in a multitude of sports settings across the province and it believes that young people should take advantage of it.
“The young people of Quebec are lucky, because there are services for them. My daily motivation is to know that there may be a little guy or a little girl in Sept-Îles, Rimouski or Saint-Eustache who is going through something and who does not know that we are there,” explains Mr. Croteau.
The support of the Canadian
Moreover, Mr. Croteau is happy that the Montreal Canadiens are also part of the initiative. In his opinion, this is a strong message: “There is a whole community that is interested in the Montreal Canadiens, so it allows us to go fast to meet people. »
For Geneviève Paquette, vice-president of community engagement and executive director of the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation, getting involved was automatic. “We cannot remain insensitive. This is the basis. These young boys and girls who play hockey are the hockey players of tomorrow, they are the parents of tomorrow. »
Moreover, as the Canadian is an unparalleled model in Quebec, this involvement gives luster to the cause. From the point of view of M.me Paquette, this initiative will provide players and their parents with the tools to intervene and listen. She maintains that hockey is a unifying sport that has great values, so it is important that it stays that way for generations to come.
Junior leagues invited
The Quebec Junior Hockey League (LHJMQ) and the Midget AAA Hockey League are also partners in “Restore Hockey” week.
Since he has been at the head of the QMJHL, Maxime Blouin has made it his duty to put issues related to diversity and inclusion at the forefront.
But his real priority is to help all league organizations develop not only good hockey players and students, but also good human beings. In a period during which players go from adolescence to adulthood, it would be difficult to do otherwise: “The players evolve in an environment, a bubble, where they find themselves among themselves. So we have to show them that there is something that exists outside of hockey. »
His counterpart in the Midget AAA League, Yanick Gagné, also talks about responsibility: “They have talent, they are in a high-level league, they are well supervised, but there is a responsibility that comes with that. »
Whether in their behavior or their interactions, Mr. Gagné is convinced that this project will have a constructive impact on the next generation: “It will encourage parents to enroll their children in hockey, knowing that they will be in an environment safe and inclusive. »