The presence of nine different Quebec players in the Habs jersey during the 2022-2023 season hasn’t gone unnoticed by Alumni Canadiens. On the other hand !

• Also read: A first in 14 years: Joël Teasdale is the ninth Quebecer to wear the CH jersey this season

“I am very pleased that many Quebecers are taking the opportunity to develop themselves at Canadian Hockey Club,” said Réjean Houle, who met in Montreal on Tuesday evening at the launch of the book “Guy Lafleur et nous”. By inviting [Joël] Teasdale and [Frédéric] Allard is a mark of recognition and players appreciate it. »

“Montembeault, Harvey-Pinard and Belzile, it’s really nice to see that,” commented Yvon Lambert. It is certain that a Quebecer will always wear Canadian colors with pride. In the case of Harvey-Pinard, he just broke through the National League. He works very hard and has proven to be a natural counterattack. It’s fun to see a youngster like him perform and will inspire many other young Quebecers who aspire to play for the Rocket and ideally the Montreal Canadiens. »

“Proud, a player does it himself, whether he’s from Quebec or not,” Yvan Cournoyer nuanced. When you get to the Canadiens, you’ve worked so hard to be on the team. And here you have to work even harder to stay. »

“Time for the end of the season”

The former Canadians are not fooled: they know that the numerous injuries and exclusion from the playoffs have paved the way for the increase in the number of Quebecers at the club.

“It’s about time for the season to end because the players have run out of juice, they’ve reached their limit,” Cournoyer continued frankly. I’ve rarely seen so many injuries in the same season for the Canadian… I can’t wait for next year. »

Houle also credits the work of his son Jean-François, head coach of the Laval Rocket, and acknowledges the presence of Quebec players throughout the organization.

“There’s Rocket, who prepare their boys well for Martin St-Louis,” he said. All of this is currently working perfectly. »

“Of course it’s nice to see a lot of Quebecers,” added Mr. Lambert. With the new organization we see Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes looking for Francophones. Also to help the Rocket in the American League. It’s getting harder and harder to have francophones because there’s less potential in our little hockey, but if you compare a Russian, a Finn, or a Quebecer in the American League, why not give a guy a chance here? »