The departure of Charles Hamelin and the early retirement of Olympic champion and four-time finalist Samuel Girard, at the start of the last cycle, would have been enough to destabilize any sports team.
Posted at 9:00 a.m.
However, the next generation has brilliantly answered the call under the watchful eye of veteran Hamelin, who will be absent from the short track speed skating World Cup circuit for the first time since the 2002-2003 season, when Marc Gagnon himself had just bowed out.
At the last Beijing Games, Steven Dubois filled the medal box with silver and bronze in the 1500m and 500m, respectively.
Pascal Dion, already a bronze medalist in the relay in PyeongChang, also had a real blossoming on the individual level, finishing first in the general classification of the 1000m at the World Cup and concluding his season as world vice-champion in Montreal.
From a collective point of view, Dubois, Dion and Hamelin joined forces with those of Maxime Laoun and Jordan Pierre-Gilles to win Olympic gold in the relay, a first title since that of Vancouver in 2010.
For the Montreal World Cup, played from Friday to Sunday at the Maurice-Richard arena, the young veterans – Dion is the oldest at 28 – welcome two newcomers, Félix Roussel (21) and Mathieu Pelletier (16 years only).
The former served as a sparring partner for the women’s squad until recently while the latter only joined the Next Gen team in May. Their acclimatization seems to be going smoothly.
“The four who were there last year, we each have our own energy,” said Dion on Tuesday at a press conference. We try to include everyone in the decision-making process. We will only try to integrate the two newcomers into the team as much as possible. Nothing will change compared to the last years. »
Dubois shares this vision: “We had an inclusive dynamic and we were all really good friends. […] We still have so much fun. With the youngsters, things are going very well so far. »
“Leaders our way”
Head coach Sébastien Cros is delighted to see the distribution of responsibilities between the four eldest. “It’s good to have two, three, four guys who manage to achieve results. It’s easier to manage. You are not alone. »
The native Frenchman is curious to see how “the leadership dynamic will be established” between them: “Will it be shared leadership? Charles is no longer there. I’m expecting that a bit as far as the team is concerned. Let it not be one person, but let it be more of a group, which is going to be fine. »
Pierre-Gilles, “who didn’t show everything last year”, according to Cros, is one of those who will have a role to play.
“We each have different personality traits that make us leaders in our own way,” said the 24-year-old Sherbrooke resident. It’s no secret that Charles was a good leader who mostly led by example. »
We all learned from him and we try to reproduce that to make this characteristic last in the Canadian team.
Jordan Pierre-Gilles, about Charles Hamelin
Unable to name a single leader, Pierre-Gilles adds that even rookies Pelletier and Roussel will bring their stone to the building.
“They are already leaders in their age group. Mathieu will quickly become one [avec nous] because it is an example. A youngster who breaks through at this age is really special and impressive for everyone. It will quickly take an important place in its own way. »
By embarking on an additional four years in 2018, Hamelin had made this passing of the torch a real goal. He can probably call himself “mission accomplished”, like the title of his recent biography written by Luc Bellemare.
“I wanted the atmosphere and the team spirit to be there 100%, recalled Hamelin. Let everyone push each other without having to force themselves. It was fun to see and experience in the last year leading up to the Olympics. As much Jo, Pascal, Steven as Max will lead the group at one time or another. It will be a group of leaders. There won’t be a leader or anything like that, like I always wanted. »
Renee who?
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
Renee Steenge (center)
Just about everyone asked the question when they heard the name of Renée Steenge pronounced in the loudspeakers of the Center de glaces de Québec, two weeks ago. The Ontarian finished third in the national selections behind Kim Boutin and Courtney Sarault. At 24, she qualified for her first World Cups.
Arrived in Montreal at 16, she spent two years in the Next Generation group, participating in the 2017 World Juniors with Sarault, Alyson Charles and Danaé Blais. Excluded from the national team two years later, she moved to Calgary to pursue her passion. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed his return.
“Mentally, it was good to take a break and get away from an environment that is super competitive. I was able to focus on my technique, my basics, myself. But on a personal level, it was definitely difficult to be away from home, from my family. And I didn’t go to school there. »
A concussion and a yellow card at the Canadian championships in March ruined his chances of rejoining the national squad. Knowing her potential, however, the coaches kept her in Montreal as a training partner.
She revealed herself a few months later at the selections. “I’ve never been so nervous in my life for a competition,” Steenge said. It meant so much to me. I put so much into it. After what happened in March, I was a bit anxious. I really wanted to succeed. Under the circumstances, she anticipates not being nervous for her first World Cup.
Simon Drouin, The Press