It was an open secret. Guillaume Latendresse and Maxim Lapierre have confirmed that they will be the owners of a North American Hockey League expansion team in Saint-Hyacinthe.
• Read also: The LNAH continues to move closer to Quebec… but will probably have to share its schedule between two arenas
• Read also: End of the fights: in Laval, they don’t care
• Read also: “I’m going to play until I can’t anymore”: Donald Brashear is still in the game at 52
“We believe in another option for our Quebecers who want to play hockey. It’s not normal to end your dream after university or major junior,” explained Lapierre during The Blue Pocketthe podcast of the two former Canadian forwards, Wednesday evening.
“It makes no sense for guys to play in the third, fourth, thousandth division in Switzerland, in Germany, in Finland, in the Czech Republic when we could bring them home,” he added, without revealing the name of the new training.
Photo credit: La Poche bleue
“No thanks”
Since Commissioner Jessy Girard certified the return of the LNAH to Saint-Hyacinthe two weeks ago, and possibly to the Quebec region, the rumor machine had gone into overdrive.
“Initially, when we were approached, we said no thank you,” admitted Latendresse. We started watching matches online and found the passion again.”
The two analysts at TVA Sports have forged links with the town of Montérégie, collaborating with the microbrewery Le Bilboquet and the Noroi distillery in order to market beers, gin and cocktails.
“The first time I bought a ticket to see hockey, it was a major junior game at the Laser [de Saint-Hyacinthe]. I had [participé au] competition to go throw on the ice, but I obviously didn’t win,” recalled Lapierre.
Photo credit: La Poche bleue
Not “a league of goons»
Between 2001 and 2009, the Maskoutains were represented by Cousin, Top Design, Cristal and Chiefs within the semi-professional circuit. But negative stories, some linked to organized crime, sounded the death knell for the adventure.
At the time, fights were common. But like many, the two new owners assure that it is no longer “a league of goons“.
“There are guys who were drafted in the National League, some played in the NHL, and are passionate. I want to change this mentality. It’s of good caliber,” underlined Latendresse.
“There are great stories, guys who studied at McGill to be a doctor, those who work and need to make ends meet, others that it’s their transition between professional hockey and studies or that it’s just for fun,” observed Lapierre, who wants to have “the party” in the Louis-Philippe-Gaucher stadium, which can accommodate some 2,000 spectators.
The old arena is already the home of the Gaulois U18 AAA, the Laureates of the Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe and the city’s minor hockey. Latendresse and Lapierre do not want to arrive with their big clogs and hope that they will be “given a chance”.
A return to the game?
The first would also like to convince his 39-year-old friend to come out of retirement.
“But I won’t go!” Lapierre said.
“It’s not over, the gang!” replied Latendresse.
► The LNAH has teams in Laval, Thetford Mines, Jonquière, Rivière-du-Loup, Saint-Georges and Sorel-Tracy.
