There are announcements that fall right in the news, like the one made on Saturday at the Bell Center.
In the midst of a crisis in hockey culture following allegations of abusive initiation into junior hockey, the Canadiens announced a partnership with Sport’Aide, an organization dedicated to promoting a “healthy, safe and harmonious for young athletes in Quebec. This is the program “Moi j’embark”, a training and awareness initiative for players and coaches.
This partnership is accompanied by a donation of $250,000 over two years from the CH to Sport’Aide.
The announcement was made in the presence of Jocelyn Thibault, General Manager of Hockey Quebec. “What we want to send as a signal, with the Canadiens and Hockey Quebec, is that it is important that our players know how to make their pivots, but also that they have good human behavior. The human skills they develop also serve them off the ice,” said Sylvain Croteau, General Manager of Sport’Aide.
The vice-president, community involvement of the Canadiens, Geneviève Paquette, specified that players from the current edition would be involved, without specifying which ones, and suggested that the team’s head coach, Martin St-Louis, had been consulted. “My goal is also to get Marie-Philip Poulin involved, since she works for our organization,” said Ms.me Package.
Sylvain Croteau was obviously asked about the stories of degrading initiations that have splattered the hockey world since an Ontario Superior Court judgment brought to light disturbing allegations.
“Abusive initiations still exist, and it does not only affect hockey, it does not only affect team sports, it does not only affect sports. It affects other spheres of society, recalled Mr. Croteau. So yes, it still exists.
“But it is also said that one should not speak out against initiations. Abusive initiations, yes, we must eliminate them at all costs. But we maintain that it is desirable, if it is done with respect for individuals. This has its benefits for cohesion, welcoming and integration. »