MONTREAL — Quebec Major Junior Hockey League commissioner Gilles Courteau confirmed he will retire following 47 years on Friday morning.
Courteau, 65, made the announcement at a press conference at the Sheraton Hotel at Montreal Airport.
“After 47 years of involvement in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, I am now ready to pass the torch,” Courteau first announced. It’s obviously my whole life that has been devoted to this circuit. It is therefore with great nostalgia and above all great pride that I am announcing today that I will be retiring completely from circuit activities as of May 2024.
He indicated during his announcement that the process to replace him will begin following the holidays and will last until the end of May. It is at this time that the identity of the successful candidate will be revealed.
In the meantime, Courteau stressed that he will remain in office for the first six months of the 2023-2024 financial year, before returning the reins to his successor and supporting him in his new role until May 31, 2024. .
“From the beginning of 2024, my role will change, as I will support a new person who will enter my functions”, explained the one who has been in office since 1986.
In addition, two representatives of the executive of the circuit announced that the championship trophy of the league playoffs, the President’s Cup, will be renamed the Gilles-Courteau trophy.
With his own
Emotional throughout the press conference, the commissioner might not hold back his tears on several occasions, in particular when thanking his wife and children for the support offered throughout these decades of service for the Quebec circuit.
“It’s time to spend time with my loved ones,” he said.
Courteau inherited the duties following the departure of Dr. Guy Morissette, having previously served as general manager of the Quebec Remparts until the team disbanded in 1985.
Under his leadership, the QMJHL went from 10 to 18 clubs, notably following an expansion in the Maritime provinces, the most decisive file of his reign, following decentralization in the metropolitan area, he believes. .
“The hardest thing to deal with was when I came up with the idea of expanding into the Maritimes. At that time, it completely changed the structure of the league, we took it in a new direction without knowing how it was going to work. »
Until he retires completely, Courteau promises to continue to make the stability of his 18 markets his No. 1 priority, while many of them are still recovering from the financial consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. 19.
“I will not deviate from that, he insisted. I always had that as a goal, I will maintain it. »
He also wants to ensure that his successor will have a tough skin. Because he will certainly need it for the effective exercise of his mandate.
“It has to be someone dedicated and passionate who will understand that a hockey league is filled, filled, filled with emotions, warned Courteau. He will have to understand that. Victory is important for owners as much as it is for general managers and coaches. He will have to realize that emotion plays a big role. And he will have to be well equipped when he arrives to say no to a team, an owner or a GM. He must be well documented to explain his answer. »
Courteau knows how. His replacement still has a year and a half to take notes.
“Did I have the energy to continue and come up with new ideas? The answer is yes, but at some point, I have to think regarding myself. »
