The small steps of the Quebec National

Go, go, go!

Not a second has been played in the National game other than the notes of a classic from the Quebec cult series, Throw and count (We are all Heroes), are already resonating in the Bonair Sports Complex, a two-ice amphitheater inaugurated in 2010.

It is under the famous cry of Jacques Mercier, played by the actor Yvan Ponton, that the initial puck drop takes place on this first Sunday in November. The goals theme song also makes a nod to the TV series written by Réjean Tremblay.

A diverse clientele

The beautiful outside temperature undoubtedly discouraged many, but there are still 856 people gathered in the larger of the two enclosures, which can accommodate up to 1,800 spectators, the smallest arena of the seven other LNAH franchises.

Among those present, families, young people and a few retirees. Some Remparts supporters, like Nancy Pelletier, her sister Diane and their mother, Andrée Arbor, came to encourage a visiting player, Danick Paquette of the Pétroliers de Laval, a former member of the Red Devils from the 2009-10 edition.

“We don’t really have any expectations coming here, but if our presence here can help the team, why not? thinks Nancy Pelletier. We love sport, that’s all!”

Bridges to rebuild

In four matches since the start of the season, the National has attracted 1,001 spectators on average, an honest performance considering that two of the matches were played on Sunday – a less attractive day in the league – and that the LNAH had completely disappeared. of the city since 2008, the year of Radio X’s death, in the old Colosseum.

That was until Jimmy Gagné and his business partners, including Steeve Gagné, long associated with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, brought Quebec back into the fold of the North American League, led by commissioner Jessy Girard since the last year.

The new Quebec team sold nearly 230 season tickets, a number lower than its objective of 300. However, it is confident of reaching this target next year.

Hence the strategy of small steps.

Even if the caliber of the North American Hockey League experienced its glory days at the turn of the millennium, a popularity boosted by the power of the 98.1 antenna, the majority owner of the National does not hide the fact that there has a lot to do to root the new team in its community.

“The comments we receive mean that we do things professionally,” he says. This is what we wanted, even if we know that there is still a lot to do. Things are falling into place and we are starting to have a little more funbecause at the beginning, it was rock and roll.»

Objectives to achieve

The director of the air conditioning department at Bonair says he is not surprised by the scale of the challenge. The businessman recognizes in the same breath that the days have gone very “fast” since obtaining a new franchise in the spring.

“We have to make ourselves known, there have to be more and more people, we have to add new sponsors,” continues Jimmy Gagné. We have goals to achieve for the first year and we are working on them.”

The National players, including defender Étienne Boutet, seem to be enjoying the adventure despite the difficult start to the season experienced by Quebec (1-6-1-1), the worst team on the circuit.

The former Oceanic and Olympic fullback cherishes the privilege of being able to continue his career in his hometown. “It’s a period of adaptation, we learn to play together,” he assesses. The organization does everything to make us feel good, things are starting to come together slowly.”

Head coach Daniel Gauthier was optimistic before Sunday’s loss, a 1-0 lead that turned into a 6-2 loss.

Victory is the crux of the matter, even for an expansion club. “We knew it was going to be tough, but there is improvement,” he analyzed after the first gain of the year recorded two days earlier. We’re learning and the guys are working, but we’re young.”

“I have confidence that the team will improve.”

— Daniel Gauthier, head coach of the Quebec National

A sense of belonging to create

The identity that the National is trying to establish is the “key” to success, especially since the image of senior hockey needs to be rebuilt in the former city of Radio 1997 to 1999).

“This identity will create enthusiasm and supporters will develop a feeling of belonging, that’s how we will make ourselves known,” explains Étienne Boutet.

Himself a veteran of Radio X, former strongman Donald Brashear has the same reading of the situation. “It feels good to have the league here,” he smiles. Hockey is popular in Quebec and I am convinced that we will make our place.”

Even if the Quebec soil has been plowed by the Remparts for five decades, Jimmy Gagné is convinced that the two teams can coexist. Their product is “different”, but there is “room for both”, believes the investor.

“We’re bringing something new to Quebec,” says the club president. People who rediscover this caliber realize how much it has changed. It’s not as much about toughness and fighting anymore. When there is, it’s in the heat of the moment.”

A new reality

The team’s top scorer, forward Maxime St-Cyr, remembers the years when battles broke out before the first shot on goal, an era that seems to be over in the LNAH.

“It’s really made a strong league,” attests the former Huskies and Drakkar center player. There are no more arranged fights, the guys come from everywhere, from the American League and Europe. The people who come to see us will stop by.”

The target audience

Hockey lover – and still waiting for the return of the Nordiques – Martin Otis is great proof of the diversity that reigns between the clienteles of the two organizations. This junior hockey fanatic has also decided to embrace the National, the new player in the capital’s sports ecosystem.

The fan even bought himself an official jersey of the new team, behind which he had the famous number 13 of Pierre Lambert, the great star of Throw and count.

“It’s good hockey, it’s a good level and there’s a little bit of robustness, it’s the funhe relates. We don’t want there to be general fights, but a little rubbing of noses from time to time is good, it gives a good atmosphere. We can’t wait for the team to be a little more competitive, but that will come. We have to give them time.”

People from everywhere

To the surprise of Marc Fortier, the former Quebec Nordiques striker and ex-coach of the CRS Express of Saint-Georges, the clientele who attend the National games come from everywhere and not from L’Ancienne-Lorette only.

This was one of the fears when the new team announced that 16 of its 18 games would be presented in the former city of Émile Loranger. The other two meetings will take place at the Pavillon Guy-Lafleur, on November 29 and December 6.

The manager of concessions at the Bonair Sports Complex and recruiter for the Remparts believes that there is a clientele for North American League hockey in Quebec.

“I wondered if it could work at first, but I’m pleasantly surprised,” said Marc Fortier. The crowds were interesting for a new team, the caliber is impressive. We hope that it will work for a long time and that they will stay with us for a long time.”

There’s no point in running, you have to start on time, the saying goes.

At 1-6-1-1, the time for small steps ends.

The team needs to start running if they want to stay in the race for a playoff spot.