View Full Version : Team Quebec?
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article.jsp?content=20051201_134500_5380
Nicholson: Hockey Canada includes Quebec
The chances of Quebec entering its own team to any international competition are unlikely being that IIHF rules allow for only one entry per country.
CALGARY (CP) -- Quebec hockey players are happy to play for Canada, says Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson.
Nicholson was reacting to a proposal by the Bloc Quebecois that Quebec have its own hockey team to play in international tournaments.
"I've been very fortunate to be around players on under-18 teams, junior teams, men's teams, women's teams and under-22 teams," Nicholson said Thursday. "I can't speak for all players, but those who were named to those rosters, including those from Quebec, were proud to wear the Canadian jersey."
International Ice Hockey Federation rules allow for only one entry per country at world championships and Olympic Games, Nicholson added.
For Quebec to have its own entry, the IIHF said it would have to separate from Canada and form its own ice hockey federation.
While unveiling the Bloc's platform Wednesday, leader Gilles Duceppe noted that England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland compete separately at soccer's World Cup even though they are all part of Great Britain.
The IIHF says Quebec would not be able to do something similar because it is currently part of Hockey Canada. The British home nations all had their own soccer associations in place before the international body FIFA was formed and have thus been allowed to remain separate entities.
"Team Quebec in international hockey (is) a long shot," IIHF spokesman Szymon Szemberg said in a release.
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vincent Lecavalier of Ile-Bizard, Que., who won a World Cup playing for Canada and will likely play in the Olympic Games in February, says he'd want to play for Canada.
"Well, Canada is a country, so that's my answer," he told the Globe and Mail. "I'm part of Team Canada and Canada as a whole.
"I'm proud to be Canadian."
When told Thursday of Lecavalier's comments, Duceppe said the decision would lie with each player.
"It's their choice ..... at the Francophonie games, there's a Team Canada and a Team Quebec and people have a choice to run for either of the teams," he said. "We don't have any problem with that."
In Quebec, Duceppe fielded a series of questions on the subject. After a few minutes, he got irritated by the queries.
"There are a lot of more important issues frankly to be discussed during the (election) campaign than that," he said.
That didn't stop the prime minister from poking fun at the Bloc idea.
Paul Martin joked that the idea sounds as far-fetched as Duceppe's recent assertion that he would like to have an army and intelligence service in an independent Quebec.
"I suppose that goes with his army and his spies," Martin, in Montreal, said of the hockey idea.
"There are a lot of Quebec hockey players who play for Canada ... on all the world teams, and they do very, very well. And I think they're pleased to play for Canada."
I thought team Quebec moved to Colorado :wave:
KB in Kelowna
12-01-05, 8:56 PM
All I can think of is the scenes from the streets of Montreal after the Gold Medal Game in 2002, peopel cheering honking car horns and showing the Canadian flag!:eek: :D
charlio lemieux
12-01-05, 10:36 PM
What a freaking Joke! Now we'll probably need another referendum.
Iced Tea
12-02-05, 12:17 AM
Politicians should stick to being douchebags and ruining the country and stay away from screwing with Canadian hockey.
By the way, I fear the day another separatist minded government is elected in Quebec. Canada is screwed up enough, we don't need to live through another Quebec referendum.
Canadian26
12-02-05, 1:30 AM
Im not really sure which section to post this in, so I posted it here.
Martin dismisses Bloc's plan for a 'Team Quebec'
CTV.ca News Staff
Liberal Leader Paul Martin dismissed a Bloc Quebecois plan that would see superstar hockey players like Mario Lemieux and Vincent Lecavalier play for Team Quebec instead of Team Canada in international tournaments.
Released on Wednesday, the Bloc platform includes a plank calling for Quebec national teams to play in international hockey and soccer tournaments.
"I would like to see the same rules as those applying to Scotland or Wales or Northern Ireland,'' Duceppe said during a news conference.
"They have their own players in the soccer World Cup or the rugby World Cup. If it's possible in Great Britain, it could be possible in Canada.''
Martin responded to Duceppe's proposal at a Montreal press conference on Thursday.
"You know, it is amazing. Do you hear Mr. Duceppe talking about the environment? Not really. Do you hear him talking about better health care? Not really. What he is talking about is ... having a hockey team," Martin said.
"I suppose that goes with his army and his spies," he joked, referring to Duceppe's wish list that includes an army and intelligence service in an independent Quebec.
When a reporter reminded Martin that hockey is a big deal in Quebec, the Grit leader replied that, indeed, "there are a lot of Quebec hockey players who have played for Canada in the Canada Cup, and who play for Canada on all of the world teams ... and they really do very, very well. I think that they are very pleased to play for Canada."
Some Quebec-born NHL players found the idea of a separate national team strange.
"It would kind of be weird to see Team Canada playing against Team Quebec," said Edmonton player Georges Laraque. "I don't think it would be proper."
Edmonton Tory MP James Rajotte said a separate Quebec team would be unfortunate for not only hockey, but for Canada.
"That would be a very symbolic and a very bad thing because Canadians, you know, one thing they can unite around is hockey," Rajotte told CTV in Ottawa.
"If they were to see one team in red and white and another team in blue and white, of people that used to play together, I think that would just be a destructive thing emotionally for this country."
Rajotte evoked the famous winning goal scored during the 1987 Canada Cup, after Wayne Gretzky passed the puck to Quebec-born Lemieux.
"These are the moments that emotionally bind a nation together. And to segment into provinces to be represented on the international stage is certainly a bad idea," he said.
"So we obviously in the Conservative party still favour the one-team concept."
Also included in Duceppe's election platform is a call for an independent Quebec to use the Olympics to encourage physical fitness.
When asked who would play for a Quebec hockey team, Duceppe named three star goalies from the province: Martin Brodeur, Jose Theodore and Roberto Luongo.
"Today I'll announce goalies. Tomorrow I'll give you the defence."
(There was an existing thread in the International play section with a different article. So I merged your post/article into the existing thread. Iced Tea)
slapshot™
12-02-05, 8:39 AM
Election platforms:
Bloc - international hockey squad Team Quebec
Conservatives - reduce GST to 5%
New Democrats - Hi, my name is Jack. Vote for me.
Liberals - we are NOT crooks. <- hahahahahaha!!!!! (yeah riiiiight... *wipes tear*)
Green Party - smoke this
Jeeze, who would YOU vote for?
bluemeanie
12-02-05, 9:27 AM
Merd. Another referandem would surly swing in favour of the seperatists now... I mean... what, like 80% of the yes votes last time were made by those in hopes of gaining their own currency... couple that with Team Quebec Playing Cards and the Canada we know now is pooched.
Election platforms:
Bloc - international hockey squad Team Quebec
Conservatives - reduce GST to 5%
New Democrats - Hi, my name is Jack. Vote for me.
Liberals - we are NOT crooks. <- hahahahahaha!!!!! (yeah riiiiight... *wipes tear*)
Jeeze, who would YOU vote for?
Tell me more about this Jack fellow....
Max Power
12-02-05, 10:35 AM
Liberals - we are NOT crooks. <- hahahahahaha!!!!! (yeah riiiiight... *wipes tear*)
Did you mean cooks? My brother in law works for Martin and he's one damn fine cook
Tell me more about this Jack fellow....
Yes please do? he seems nice
Mehh all politicians are crooks but at least this Jack guy said Hi to us
charlio lemieux
12-02-05, 12:05 PM
Election platforms:
Bloc - international hockey squad Team Quebec
Conservatives - reduce GST to 5%, and remove personall rights and freedoms
New Democrats - Hi, my name is Jack. Vote for me.
Liberals - we are NOT crooks. <- hahahahahaha!!!!! (yeah riiiiight... *wipes tear*)
Jeeze, who would YOU vote for?
Sorry you missed something.
bluemeanie
12-02-05, 12:18 PM
Sorry you missed something.
yeah... we communists..er, ah... Greeners.... have a say too.
Max Power
12-02-05, 12:23 PM
From The Sun
Lecavalier: 'I'm proud to be Canadian'
By CP
CALGARY -- Quebec hockey players are happy to play for Canada, says Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson.
Nicholson was reacting to a proposal by the Bloc Quebecois that Quebec have its own hockey team to play in international tournaments.
"I've been very fortunate to be around players on under-18 teams, junior teams, men's teams, women's teams and under-22 teams," Nicholson said yesterday. "I can't speak for all players, but those who were named to those rosters, including those from Quebec, were proud to wear the Canadian jersey."
International Ice Hockey Federation rules allow for only one entry per country at world championships and Olympic Games, Nicholson added.
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vincent Lecavalier of Ile-Bizard. Que., who will likely play in the Olympic Games, says he'd want to play for Canada.
"Well, Canada is a country, so that's my answer," he told the Globe and Mail. "I'm part of Team Canada and Canada as a whole.
"I'm proud to be Canadian."
bluemeanie
12-02-05, 12:34 PM
From The Sun
Lecavalier: 'I'm proud to be Canadian'
By CP
CALGARY -- Quebec hockey players are happy to play for Canada, says Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson.
Nicholson was reacting to a proposal by the Bloc Quebecois that Quebec have its own hockey team to play in international tournaments.
"I've been very fortunate to be around players on under-18 teams, junior teams, men's teams, women's teams and under-22 teams," Nicholson said yesterday. "I can't speak for all players, but those who were named to those rosters, including those from Quebec, were proud to wear the Canadian jersey."
International Ice Hockey Federation rules allow for only one entry per country at world championships and Olympic Games, Nicholson added.
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vincent Lecavalier of Ile-Bizard. Que., who will likely play in the Olympic Games, says he'd want to play for Canada.
"Well, Canada is a country, so that's my answer," he told the Globe and Mail. "I'm part of Team Canada and Canada as a whole.
"I'm proud to be Canadian."
Bo yeah!
Psst... Max. This was in the original post... but hey, no worries... we all know about your little 'reading back more then two posts' fobia. =]
slapshot™
12-02-05, 12:37 PM
Sorry you missed something.
Fixed.
bluemeanie
12-02-05, 12:41 PM
Fixed.
lol. Yeah that's what I thought he meant too...
but I think he had something more sinister in mind. Re-read his post where he quotes you on your Consevative agenda...
slapshot™
12-02-05, 12:50 PM
lol. Yeah that's what I thought he meant too...
but I think he had something more sinister in mind. Re-read his post where he quotes you on your Consevative agenda...
He doesn't have to worry if he is already married (he musta missed that part). They won't rescind any gay marriages that already have been performed.
Quebec has a stacked team when it comes to netminders....
Canada vs. Quebec (http://edmsun.canoe.ca/Sports/Hockey/2005/12/02/1333512-sun.html)
charlio lemieux
12-02-05, 1:30 PM
He doesn't have to worry if he is already married (he musta missed that part). They won't rescind any gay marriages that already have been performed.
Quebec has a stacked team when it comes to netminders....
Canada vs. Quebec (http://edmsun.canoe.ca/Sports/Hockey/2005/12/02/1333512-sun.html)
Hey Slappy :curse: :curse: :curse: :laughing: I'm not gay, but it is not anybody's business who wants to get married. :no: I didn't want to listen to the debate the first time and sure as hell don't want to hear it again.
Quebec has the top two Canadian goalies for sure. The defense is a bit weak, without the WHL blueliners.
If they sent that team the Goalies would have to steal the show in order to win.
The BQ is getting stranger every day.
In an odd twist, Don Cherry agrees, let Quebec have their own team ;)
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