2024-03-01 20:23:44
In just two and a half years, Jocelyn Thibault will have been able to advance hockey in Quebec to a level almost never seen before, assures the president of the board of directors of the federation, Claude Fortin, who invites recalcitrant organizations to an examination of conscience.
• Read also: “I had the impression of being in a minefield”: disappointed, Jocelyn Thibault announces his resignation
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The announcement of Jocelyn Thibault’s departure from the general management of Hockey Quebec on Thursday evening sparked a wave of support for the hockey man, but also indignation towards certain regional organizations which refuse to move forward.
Internally, Mr. Fortin does not hide it: Thibault’s departure went wrong.
“Those who are reluctant have a target on their backs right now. I hope that there are some who will question themselves and look in the mirror,” he said.
Photo provided by Hockey Québec
There is great disappointment in the Hockey Quebec offices since the federation finally seemed to have found the one through whom change would come.
During the hiring process, Hockey Quebec received 127 applications for the position of general manager before reducing the number to five, then confirming the hiring of Thibault who had supplanted all the other candidates in the various tests and interviews.
Then its impact was immediate.
“He’s a guy who was dedicated, that’s not possible. As soon as he took office, he bought a condo in Montreal to be close to the action. He refused to go back to his home in Estrie sometimes on weekends because he wanted to be close to people.”
Thibault took office while Hockey Quebec was experiencing a major internal crisis when the federation had to initiate a mediation process due to a climate that was said to be toxic at the Montreal head office.
“He came into the office, connected with the employees and even managed to negotiate a five-year collective agreement. It shows that people trusted him.”
Photo Agence QMI, Toma Iczkovits
Major projects
What frustrates Mr. Fortin is that a real change was taking place under Thibault.
“One of Jocelyn’s great strengths was her relationship with the government. We had to manage hot issues and when he spoke to the minister, she really listened. It was useful to us because Jocelyn had a great influence.
This influence was felt at different levels and made it possible to move issues forward.
“Through his notoriety and his power, he made representations to Hockey Canada and Scott Salmond to make them aware of how our players were treated. He was sowing seeds everywhere and was part of a select committee of three people at Hockey Canada,” he mentions, adding that he had entries into different international federations, including Finland and the UNITED STATES.
The irritant of school hockey
Mr. Fortin cites in particular the completion of the harmonization of school hockey, a file which had been started before him, but which he brought to an end.
And this success was another example of the regional resistance that Thibault spoke of to explain his departure.
“It bothers the regions because they have the impression of losing power. They accuse Hockey Quebec and Jocelyn of favoring the school network and losing members. In our eyes, a member at the civil or school level is a member of ours. Sometimes a little competition helps you improve, but there are some that it irritates.”
It is these “three or four” refractory branches which will have finally got the better of Thibault, laments Claude Fortin.
“Jocelyn doesn’t like confrontation. He wants everyone to get along. This is the side that Stéphane [Auger, son remplaçant] will bring. I’m disappointed that we didn’t bring Stéphane before because I think that if that had been the case, Jocelyn would still be with us.
He had warned
When Thibault announced his departure, the president of the Board of Directors of Hockey Quebec was able to remember a striking sentence that Thibault had uttered during an interview held as part of the hiring process, in 2021.
“We asked him how he would react if the board of directors made a decision that did not suit him. His response was: “if it’s something that goes once morest my values, I’ll take my things and leave”. In this case, it’s not because of the CA but he did exactly what he said.”
Mr. Fortin then concluded our interview of a little over 45 minutes before the ultimate mark of respect, towards Jocelyn Thibault.
“I had the opportunity to meet Jean Béliveau at the time and I immediately understood why everyone who knew him well still called him Mr. Béliveau. I can tell you one thing: I knew Jocelyn Thibault but, now, for me, it’s Mr. Thibault.”
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