The Quebecers most useful to their team

Who were the most useful Quebecers to their team in 2023?

Easy question, complicated answer. “Is a pair of figure skaters a team? », asked Simon Drouin. Um… good question. “Are you going to include tennis players who competed in the Billie Jean King Cup? », added Nicholas Richard. Relevant remark, young colleague. I take note of that. “What about the long track skating chase? Valérie Maltais is world champion. »

Aaaaaaaaaaargh.

Basta, Simon. My brain is about to explode!

My column, my rules:

1– Athletes must evolve in a sport where there are only collective titles;

2- Athletes must be part of a professional or national team.

You will therefore not find tennis players, cyclists or skaters in this list. Nor players from the Carabins of the University of Montreal, the Rouge et Or of the University of Laval or the QMJHL teams.

No one here deserves anything. The idea is to highlight the work of Quebecers who contribute the most to the success of their team in a major championship.

10. Bennedict Mathurin

What a sensational entry into the pros! Mathurin finished fourth in the voting for the best rookie in the NBA. With the Indiana Pacers, a greatly improved team this season, he just reached the finals of the league’s intraseason tournament. No, he is not the most dominant player at his club. But he’s an important cog, averaging 13 points and 25 minutes per game.

9. Marie-Philip Poulin and Ann-Renée Desbiens (tied)

Canadian hockey players played few international games in 2023. Only around ten. Difficult to stand out with such a small sample. Marie-Philip Poulin and Ann-Renée Desbiens did it anyway. The first was named to the all-star team at the World Championship, where the Canadians lost in the final to the Americans. The second received the title of best goalkeeper of the tournament. Both are now part of Montreal’s team in the new women’s league, the PWHL.

8. Patrice Bergeron

That’s right, he retired last summer. Except that during the first four months of the year, he was at the heart of the success of the Boston Bruins. His leadership and inspired play allowed his team to win the President’s Trophy and break the NHL record for points in a season. A herniated disc prevented him from being at his peak in the playoffs. The Bruins suffered and were surprised in seven games by the Florida Panthers.

7. Marc-Antoine Dequoy

The soul of the Alouettes’ formidable winning streak this fall. His 101-yard interception return in the first minute of the Eastern final, against the Toronto Argonauts, set the table for the huge surprise victory against the big favorites. During the season, Dequoy finished second in the Canadian League in interceptions (5) and forced fumbles (3).

6. Matthew Betts

The BC Lions defensive end broke the record for most sacks by a Canadian player in the CFL, with 18. That was six more than any other player in the league. Betts also had 44 defensive tackles. Not surprisingly, he was awarded Defensive Player of the Year. His excellence contributed to the success of the Lions, who finished the season with a 12-6 record.

5. Évelyne Viens

The Quebec striker shone in the Swedish soccer league, with 12 goals and 5 assists in 17 games. His success convinced the best Italian club, AS Roma, to acquire him. She continued her momentum, with four goals in six games. Since his arrival, AS Roma has still not lost in the national championship. Viens also scored against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Too bad she played so little at the World Cup (90 minutes).

4. Luguentz Dort

Next summer, Canada’s men’s basketball team will compete in its first Olympic Games since 2000. Luguentz Dort played a crucial role in qualifying. He notably had a differential of +25 in the bronze medal match against the Americans. Known for the brilliance of his defensive coverage, the Montrealer started all games for the Oklahoma City Thunder this season, and maintained an average of 10 points per game.

3. Maxime Crepeau

Happy New Year for Quebecers in the MLS. Mohamed Farsi played big minutes in Columbus, Jonathan Sirois was named CF Montreal defensive player of the year and Mathieu Choinière, MVP of the Montreal eleven. But it was LAFC goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau who had the biggest impact on his team. After returning from a serious injury in July, he excelled. In the playoffs, he stopped 17 consecutive shots, during a streak of three shutouts, to allow his team to reach the grand final, lost on Saturday against Columbus.

2. Édouard Julien

The North Star surpassed all expectations this year, with averages of .263/.381/.839 (bat, appearances, attendances + power). For a few weeks in July, he was even the most formidable hitter in the major leagues. His presence at the top of the lineup greatly contributed to the success of the Minnesota Twins, who finished first in their division and won their first playoff game since 2004. Julien also stood out at the World Classic, with an average of highest power in the tournament. Not just for Canada. For all teams.

1. Jonathan Marchessault

The Vegas Golden Knights forward became the first undrafted hockey player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy (most valuable player to his team in the playoffs) since 1988. The last one before him? Wayne Gretzky. Nice company. During the playoffs, Marchessault led the NHL in goals (13), even-strength points (19) and rating (+17). “Jonathan knows how to capture the big moments. He always had a gift for that,” admitted Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon during the Stanley Cup final. An essential quality which has earned him, today, the title of most useful Quebecer to his team in 2023.

Also considered : Matthew Bergeron (football), Mathieu Choinière (soccer), Axelle Crevier (water polo), Mohamed Farsi (soccer), Ismaël Koné (soccer), Élyse Lemay-Lavoie (water polo), Michael Matheson (hockey), Samuel Montembeault (hockey), Joshua Roy (hockey for Team Canada), Benjamin St-Juste (football)