On Sunday evening, on the show Tout le monde en parle, a very emotional moment marked the set when Martin St-Louis and Mario Dumont found themselves side by side.
Invited to talk about his new role on QUB radio, Mario Dumont surprised everyone by admitting to being “intimidated” by the presence of the head coach of the Montreal Canadiens.
“I am intimidated”he admitted upon his arrival, interrupting the usual greetings with Guy A. Lepage.
Faced with this unusual confession, the host, curious, asked him why. Mario Dumont, visibly moved, simply pointed at Martin St-Louis, sitting to his right.
“It’s more than that”he added with a shy smile.
“When the Canadiens players reach Martin’s level of intensity in Tampa Bay, in the playoffs, that’s when they’ll win the Stanley Cup. I was a fan of his.”
This confession, full of sincerity, touched St-Louis, who, for his part, listened attentively.
Guy A. Lepage, never short of a comeback, accentuated the moment by emphasizing:
“Well there, he’s next to you.”
Dumont, without hesitation, replied:
“I’m proud. I’m proud of Martin.”
These words clearly showed the admiration that the former politician has for the coach. This scene, tinged with authenticity, moved the spectators and reminded us how much hockey transcends simple sport in Quebec.
The emotion continued when Martin St-Louis was asked about a more personal subject: the injury of his son Mason, who had required hospitalization the previous year.
Guy A. Lepage, with sensitivity, asked about Mason and his state of health. St-Louis, visibly touched, explained that his son was doing better and had even started skating again, although he was not yet ready to resume matches.
This moment of family sharing strengthened the emotional bond between Martin St-Louis and the Quebec public. The coach revealed how this difficult ordeal had brought his family together and how they had spent the summer together at their family home in Connecticut.
Despite the ordeal, Mason appears to be on the road to recovery, news that has warmed the hearts of CH fans and hockey fans.
The passage of Mario Dumont and Martin St-Louis to Everyone is talking about it allowed us to expose more human facets of these two public figures.
On the one hand, Dumont, often seen as a rigid political analyst, showed himself vulnerable in the face of one of his sporting idols.
On the other hand, St-Louis shared a moment of family intimacy, recalling that behind the face of a demanding coach hides a loving and concerned father.
The evening was also punctuated by lighter moments, notably when Mario Dumont, teased by Alexandre Barrette about his show’s market share, compared his work to the Canadiens’ reconstruction efforts.
“It’s won one part at a time, like the reconstruction of the Canadiens”he said, showing that he had not lost his sense of retort.
Ultimately, this show offered a glimpse into the deep relationship that Quebec has with hockey and its legendary figures.
The mutual respect between Mario Dumont and Martin St-Louis, combined with the latter’s resilience in the face of personal and professional challenges, made this moment a true life lesson.
And, for Canadiens fans, it only strengthens their hope that, under St. Louis’ leadership, the team might finally one day hoist the Stanley Cup.
It remains to be seen whether Mario Dumont will be able to win his Stanley Cup: beating Patrick Lagacé at the finish line.
Speaking of Lagacé, he must undoubtedly have a smile on his face at the moment, because recent events confirm his dominance in the ratings at 98.5 FM.
While Mario Dumont was humble in admitting that he must win his market share “one by one” with his new morning show on QUB Radio, this only underlines how comfortably Lagacé is installed at the top of the talk radio rankings in Quebec.
Dumont’s show, although promising, is still in the adaptation and construction phase, just like the Canadiens in its reconstruction, as he himself pointed out on the set of Tout le monde en parle.
And what do ratings have to do with a son’s health?
What Martin St-Louis experienced with his son Mason’s injury goes far beyond the realm of sports. As coach of the Montreal Canadiens, St-Louis is used to dealing with the pressure, expectations and daily challenges of professional hockey.
But when his own son’s health was at stake, everything took on another dimension.
Mason St-Louis was lucky, as he was the victim of a violent collision that caused a serious injury requiring hospitalization.
According to some sources, he suffered brain swelling after a head impact, a dangerous condition that can lead to serious complications if the brain does not deflate properly.
The injury led Martin St-Louis to step away from his coaching role for several games to stay by his son’s side as doctors closely monitored his condition.
Complications related to skull swelling are always worrying, as they can quickly develop into a critical situation, sometimes requiring surgery.
Knowing that Mason is recovered to the point of skating warms the hearts of Quebec. To hell with the ratings between Lagacé and Dumon.
All that matters is that Mason St-Louis is okay.
