Quebec ice hockey player Cédric Paré has been the target of thousands of hate comments on social networks since he injured Canadian star Patrik Laine at the Bell Center on Saturday.

“It goes beyond borders. It is completely useless, free and evil,” complains Sylvain Croteau, general director of the Sport’Aide organization.

On Saturday evening, Lévis native defenseman Cédric Paré was playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs during a preseason game in Montreal when his knee collided with that of the Habs’ Finnish winger. He had to leave the meeting in pain.

The gesture, which many believed was intentional, was not, Paré assured after the game.

Photo credit: Photo MARTIN ALARIE

This did not assuage the anger of CH supporters. The day after the incident, there were thousands of comments on Cédric Paré’s Instagram account, most of them hateful or threatening.

Photo credit: TSN screenshot

Even family members

“Osti lazy”, “I hope karma knocks on your door”, “I’m waiting for you in front of your house.” […] gave me one”: Here is a selection of the unedifying messages found there.

A member of the ice hockey player’s family also received insults on his Facebook account, it was said The diary.

Accounts on the social network X that were followed by thousands of people also took part in the attacks against Paré. One of them suggested that he “should not show his face in Quebec for a while.”

Sylvain Croteau is shocked by the content of the comments and would like to call on the Canadian’s followers to calm down.

“It’s so easy to stay behind the screen to write this, but we have no idea what it can do to a person and those close to them,” he explains. They must be shocked and not believe what they have experienced for ten hours.”

Mr. Croteau emphasizes that Paré and his family are Quebecers, which adds an additional layer of “closeness” to the hatred they endure. “If it were my son, I would be scared, I would be worried,” he claims.

Write to Laine

The director of Sport’Aide invites fans to direct their feelings towards Patrik Laine.

“Do you care about your team? Take care of your players. If there’s anyone who needs to receive messages today, it’s Patrik Laine.

The hatred on social networks affects the entire sports world in Quebec, fears Sport’Aide, which is trying to raise awareness of this problem with video clips and workshops.

“These behaviors are regularly reported to us. It is clear that this concerns us,” adds Mr Croteau.

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