Hockey fans in Quebec City have been dying for the Nordiques, so beloved since they left more than 20 years ago, to return.
Today, hope is being rekindled to see the Blue Jerseys once again strut the NHL arenas due to the intriguing remarks of former defenseman Philip Boucher.
When Boucher recently appeared on TVA Sports’ Jean-Charles Lajoie, he revealed that about a year and a half ago, he had met with an unknown NHL executive at a Florida airport who assured him everything was for Quebec. She quickly receives it back from the Nordiques.
He said to me, ‘Phil, I think so. Checks ready, there is more than one group able to bring a club to Quebec. There is more money in Quebec City than the world thinks. There are people who are ready to do it, and it will happen in the next couple of years, or it will not happen. We’re talking about 14 months ago, he’s someone I respect a lot.
I still believe it, but it should happen soon.
Boucher made some very insightful remarks, even joking that the Nordiques wouldn’t be confined to the lower team role if Quebec City were to join the elite group of NHL teams. He also emphasized that Quebec City has more financial resources than one might imagine.
“We’re going to sell the dressing rooms,” he said, “and there’s a business that’s doing very well.” Include Beauce in this, there’s a lot of money and companies doing well in Beauce, there’s a lot of people I know from Rimouski who have season tickets for the Canadiens, you think there wouldn’t be any in Quebec City? Add Saguenay to that…we have a market for it. We will have nothing to envy Winnipeg or Ottawa.
There’s more than one group ready to write the check, all we need is the go-ahead from the National League and we’ve been waiting for that for a few years.”
Although words like this might make even the most cynical hopeful, it’s still very doubtful the Coyotes will move to Quebec City anytime soon.
However, given the current climate, just knowing that Quebec City has the financial resources to fund an NHL franchise is encouraging, and we can always hope that one day the Nordiques will return to playing NHL ice.
“I don’t get carried away, I’m a realist, but the realist in me tells me we’re ready.” Lord, save her to @employee : https://t.co/BC1xNghuE6
– TVA Sports (TVASports) May 17, 2023