Before Saturday night’s preseason game at the Bell Center, striker Cédric Paré was a relatively unknown and unknown player in the eyes of most hockey fans, despite his Lévis origins. No longer.

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The owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, who has not played a single regular season game in his National League career, has not made any friends among the Canadian’s fans. His knee-to-knee contact with Patrik Laine early in the first period acted as a hammer blow not only to the Habs but also to the Finn’s legion of admirers, whom some viewed as a savior.

However, Paré’s gesture, seen by some as malicious and deliberate, risks giving Laine an extended absence. After the blow, he writhed in pain and struggled to get back to the locker room.

“You know, it’s a fast sport and it wasn’t my intention to hurt him. “It’s an unfortunate incident and I hope he comes out of it well,” defended the Leafs player with a smile to the TSN network after the visitors’ 2-1 win.

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The former Rimouski Océanic and Saint John Sea Dogs of the Maritimes Quebec Junior Hockey League was also asked about his altercation with Arber Xhekaj. The CH defender tried to attack him, but Paré refused to initiate the fight and the instigator was chased out of the game while giving the Leafs a seven-minute power play.

“Of course he will defend his teammates, but I wasn’t prepared for that. It surprised me.

It remains to be seen whether Paré will still be with the big club to answer for his actions when Toronto faces CH in Montreal on October 9th. He signed a one-year, two-term contract this summer.

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