HOCKEY HALL OF FAMER LUC ROBITAILLE ANNOUNCED AS PANELLIST FOR 2011 MOLSON EXPORT QUEBEC HOCKEY SUMMIT

Press Release

The 2011 Molson Export Quebec Hockey Summit steering committee today announced the four panelists of the event’s first session: Long-Term Player Development. The guest speaker for the opening session on Saturday, August 27 is Dr. Steve Norris.

Luc Robitaille played 19 seasons in the NHL after being drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the ninth round (171st overall) in 1984. He also played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings, with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2002. In 2007, Robitaille was inducted in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Hall of Fame. Two years later, he was welcomed into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Dr. Charles H. Cardinal is a recipient of the Geoff Gowan Award, which is presented by the Coaching Association of Canada to recognize lifetime contribution to coaching development. He spent time as a professor at the Université de Montréal and Université de Sherbrooke, as well as being involved as a volunteer for more than 40 years in the recreational sports field. He now works as a consultant in high-level athlete development and is involved in the Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) program. He was inducted into the Canadian Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2001.

Dr. Wayne Halliwell, a McGill grad, is a world-renowned sports psychology consultant who has helped a number of Canadian teams and individuals win medals at world championships and the Olympics. A professor of kinesiology at the Université de Montréal, Halliwell mentored three of Canada’s 2010 Olympic medallists: freestyle skiers Alexandre Bilodeau and Jennifer Heil as well as figure skater Joannie Rochette. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver marked Halliwell’s 10th Olympics as a sports psychologist and his fifth as part of Team Canada.

Luce Mongrain represented Canada at the 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Sweden, and has since served as a coach, manager, teacher and television analyst for Radio-Canada. She graduated with a degree in physical education and fitness leadership from McGill University and, in 2007, was inducted into Quebec’s Soccer Hall of Fame. Luce is currently in charge of the student-athlete program at the Académie les Estacades in Trois-Rivières.

The Molson Export Quebec Hockey Summit’s theme is to address the challenges facing hockey in the Province of Quebec today. Discussion will revolve around four main topics:

Long-term player development: Exploring opportunities for development based on age; analyzing the development arc; actions currently being taken in Quebec; challenges facing development in Quebec.
Player development through the Program of Excellence: Development opportunities for 16-year-old players and older; options following their internship; actions currently being taken in Quebec.
Creating a safe environment through positive behaviour and attitude: Issues facing player health, including concussions; studies on hockey injuries; impact of rules; importance of adequately utilizing body checks and how players can better protect themselves on the ice.
Recruitment and retention of players: Presentation of the demographic statistics from the Province of Quebec; Hockey Québec membership; new activities and initiatives; women’s hockey.

The 2011 Molson Export Quebec Hockey Summit will be held at the Bell Centre in Montreal on August 26 and 27. The public is invited to assist and participate. A very limited number of tickets are still available for the event.

To ensure your participation in this historic event on player development in Quebec or for more details on the registration process and a complete schedule, visit www.quebechockeysummit.com.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)