Return of the Nordics?
PHOTO BERNARD BRAULT, PRESS ARCHIVES
The Videotron Center in Quebec
In my opinion, Quebec City and its surroundings are ready for the return of the Nordiques. What do you think is preventing this return and is there hope?
Serge Ste-Marie
Response from Guillaume Lefrancois
At the risk of disappointing you, hope seems slim. The best chance to see the NHL in Quebec came from the possible move of the Senators, but the purchase of the club by Michael Andlauer and his partners from the Ottawa real estate community suggests that the team will anchor itself in the capital of Canada. With groups in Houston and now Salt Lake City showing interest in a team, not to mention recent rumors out of Atlanta, the NHL has options in the United States in the event of a move or of expansion. These markets certainly do not have as many hockey fans, but in the eyes of the NHL, there are new revenues to be exploited without the risk of cannibalization. The NHL sees its income globally and if part of the income of a team in Quebec comes at the expense of Montreal, the league would not be any further ahead. We can also believe that a club in Quebec would not help boost the value of television contracts in the United States, where the NHL is lagging behind other leagues.
The Red line
PHOTO BERNARD BRAULT, PRESS ARCHIVES
The Bell Center
Why did the NHL remove the red line? What was it for?
Daniel Fournier
Response from Guillaume Lefrancois
The NHL has never removed the red line, as it is still painted on rinks and is used to determine icing disallowed. However, the “two-line” passing rule was abolished after the 2004-2005 lockout, in order to stimulate the attack. Previously, a pass coming from the defensive zone and caught after the red line was considered illegal because the puck had crossed two lines.
The salary of junior coaches
PHOTO YAN DOUBLET, LE SOLEIL ARCHIVES
Patrick Roy behind the Quebec Remparts bench last season
How much does a major junior coach earn?
Alain Wood
Response from Guillaume Lefrancois
Very difficult to answer your question, as disclosing coaches’ salaries is both taboo and highly variable. Taboo because even in the NHL, the CapFriendly site lists the salaries of only 15 of the 32 head coaches. And at the junior level, our attempts to get an estimate were unsuccessful. Variable because the other benefits are numerous, from the apartment paid for to the vehicle provided, if the team is sponsored by a car dealership, for example. Ditto for the assistants, because some are simply laid off in the summer, while others can be reassigned to administrative tasks.
Block shots
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Defender David Savard, of the Montreal Canadiens, often blocks opposing shots… at his own risk.
We see more and more, particularly in the playoffs, players blocking shots coming from everywhere in defense. This often results in unfortunate injuries. Could we review the equipment of the defenders for example? More elaborate leggings, ankle protection?
Pierre Chouinard
Answer from Mathias Brunet
Such protections exist, among others for the ankles, but the problem is that players generally do not want them. They want to feel as comfortable and light as possible. Moreover, many keep their shoulder pads for several years, some even keep the same ones since the junior ranks! Difficult to make them change their old habits…
The anthem in both languages
PHOTO BERNARD BRAULT, PRESS ARCHIVES
Alexandre Sylvestre singing the national anthem at the Bell Center
Is the national anthem sung in both languages in English and French in Canada outside Quebec? Otherwise, why is it sung in both languages in Montreal when French is the common language in Quebec?
Pierre Rousseau
Response from Justin Vezina
To answer the first part of the question, in most Canadian sporting events, it’s only in English, except when the visiting team comes from Quebec. In this case, the teams often make an effort to find a bilingual person. However, even if it is not an imperative, it is the mission that the majority of clubs give themselves. We have even seen some teams in the United States in recent years make this effort. The Seattle Kraken, New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals all received a visit from the Canadian with a bilingual Canadian anthem. In Quebec, it depends on the scope of the competition, underlines the singer Alyssa Daunais, who notably interpreted the national anthem for the Canadian, the Laval Rocket and the Montreal Alouettes. During several QMJHL games, she only had to sing in French. However, the Canadian national anthem in the so-called major leagues is always bilingual when the game is held in Montreal.
F1 prize pools
PHOTO GEORG HOCHMUTH, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez on the podium at the Austrian Grand Prix
The winner of an F1 race receives a trophy during the podium presentation. Is there an additional grant from the FIA or any performance bonus from his team? Or does he only receive his salary according to his contract with his team?
Stephane Monarque
Response from Katherine Harvey-Pinard
According to an April 2023 article published by The Sporting News, the total FIA prize pool distributed between teams according to the manufacturers’ classification at the end of the current season is $900 million. But this money is not given to the pilots directly; performance bonuses are pre-established in a pilot’s contract. For example, the championship won in extremis by Verstappen in 2021 during the last race of the season would have brought him around 12 million additional dollars, according to information given by a Spanish media.