Surrounded by a controversy triggered in spite of themselves by the government’s lavishness towards them, the Los Angeles Kings took their first steps on Wednesday in Quebec, on the ice as much as on public opinion.
The opening of the team’s first press briefing on Quebec soil set the tone: Kings president Luc Robitaille immediately announced a donation of “400 sets of complete equipment, skates, helmets, gloves” to as many “children less privileged than the rest of us. » The money which will be used to purchase the equipment, added the former number 20, will come out of the Kings’ pockets, and not from the public coffers.
Bailey, the club’s mascot, then escorted a recipient, Felix, from backstage to the stand. Smiles and photos in front of the Kings banner prominently displayed at the back. “As an organization, it is important to always give something to the city that welcomes us,” assured Mr. Robitaille.
The Kings will not be idle during their stay of a few days in Quebec. In addition to training and the two preparatory games, the team has a busy schedule: boot hockey with teenagers in the disadvantaged neighborhood of Saint-Sauveur, visiting sick children at the Soleil mother-child center at the CHUL, hockey clinic with young people at risk of dropping out, then distribution of meal baskets to the Bouchée generous, the food bank located opposite the Videotron Center which was starving at the time when the government promised millions to the Kings.
“We are not here to create any tension”
The discontent raised by the public money which paid for their visit to Quebec visibly resonated as far as Los Angeles. On Wednesday, the Kings said they were sorry.
“We are not here to create any tension,” assured number 24, Phillip Danault. Honestly, we had no idea what it would create. Me and the boyswe’re really just here to play hockey. »
The reception of the supporters, until now, has been impeccable, greeted the Quebec center which has become famous for its famous “Happy Saint-Jean!” » launched pizza in hand, at a press conference, while the Canadiens were heading to the Stanley Cup final in 2021. The city is beautiful, autumn too, greeted the Glorious One who became King in Los Angeles. In addition, he added, “we sleep very well at the Château”.
At his side, the president of the team preferred to keep silent about the amount of money received by the Kings to come and play in Quebec. “I can tell you that it certainly helps pay Phil’s salary,” he joked, before dismissing the question. “I’m not going to share that, it’s part of the way we do business. »
It is also impossible to know the sums of money that the Kings themselves paid to come and train in Quebec. “I don’t have the figures with me, but it’s expensive,” said Luc Robitaille. It is expensive to runner a National League team. They call it the NHL, the National Hockey League. We call it the “Never Hungry League”, there is always food everywhere. […] The players, it’s important that they are treated well, it’s important because everyone is focused on their performance. »
Knives in the wound
The Quebec government, by inviting the National Hockey League to the Quebec amphitheater, did not hide its intention to win over Commissioner Gary Bettman to facilitate the return of a club to the capital. The Kings did not hesitate to rekindle the nostalgia still alive for the Nordiques on Wednesday.
“It’s a world-class arena worthy of the National League, world-class,” said captain Anze Kopitar enthusiastically. “It would be really cool to see the rivalry again [Québec-Montréal] one day,” said Phillip Danault. “If the National League could come back here, it would be incredible,” concluded Luc Robitaille. It’s such a market amazing. »
It’s not just at the Videotron Center that the knives were turning in the wound.
At the Salon rouge, the solidarity spokesperson, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, ironically recalled that “it’s a great day for the Minister of Finance: the Los Angeles Kings are in town, on the arm of Quebec taxpayers.” In light of a deficit which is around 11 billion dollars, asked the elected official from Gouin, would Eric Girard again sign a check for a few million to the Kings?
“It’s a celebration of hockey,” replied the minister. It will be my pleasure to do the post-mortem with you after…” The next invitation addressed to an NHL hockey club is not likely to come from the office of the “minister of the Nordics”: never Mr. Girard, during the he exchange, showed the enthusiasm that accompanied, a year ago, the announcement that the big league was arriving in Quebec.