Dismay from Cédric Paré’s ball hockey team, several members of which are still shocked to see the threats against the young athlete who became public enemy number one on Saturday evening in Quebec when he came into knee-to-knee contact Canadian striker Patrik Laine.

“I spoke to him this morning. He told me that he received so many hate messages and threats that he had to delete his social media. He also speaks French. He’s not crazy and he sees the comments, so it’s definitely not easy for him,” laments Émile Samson, Cédric’s teammate and friend since hockey school.

For his part, his coach at Prostyle Lettrage de Lévis in the National Ball Hockey League (LNHB) describes him as someone very gentle and calm, who knows no malice and who is loved by everyone. The latter adds that he comes from a good family, is always polite and can’t find better words for a person.

“I’m still in shock when I see what happened to him. It’s not like him to do something like that on purpose. He works so hard to get his place and I don’t think his goal was to hurt a man to get there. “He’s not a bum,” explains Denis Minville.

“It happened quickly”

The latter also finds it worrying to see the extent to which the situation is becoming disproportionate, since even the entourage of the former standard-bearer of the Sea Dogs and the Océanic in the QMJHL has received threats on social networks in recent hours.

“It happened quickly. I’m a Canadiens fan myself and understand that fans look at Patrik Laine as a savior, and all the better if that happens, but it’s an accidental move, it’s getting way too big.

“In my opinion, this really goes beyond the scope of sport. “At some point it’s a random gesture and he’s 25 years old. We shouldn’t ruin his life because he had an accident with a player,” he added.

Passionate but…

Émile Samson also says he fully understands that Sainte-Flanelle supporters are passionate because they are passionate, but still believes there is a line that must not be crossed.

“It’s understandable that people are passionate, but there are some who quickly fall into emotions and comments. What they don’t realize is that it also impacts the lives of others, including those of their family and friends. We’re not in a video game here,” Samson remembers.

“Some people should read the text again before hitting send because there are things that just aren’t said. At a certain point there should even be sanctions because it is serious,” he concluded.

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