It was the first time that event took place in Laval.

Three matches per day were scheduled between the teams of Stephen F. Austin, Quinnipiac, Montana State, UNCG, MTSU, and Hofstra.

“We know Montreal and Laval are basketball fans,” said Emilio Zaga Mendez, brand manager at Evenko. “We hope it becomes a recurring event every year.”

MTSU Stands Out

All six teams played three matches during the weekend.

MTSU was the only perfect team, winning its three matches. It first defeated Hofstra by a score of 64-54, then registered a convincing 75-63 victory over Stephen F. Austin the next day. The team concluded its weekend by winning a close 72-71 battle against Montana State.

Quinnipac and Hofstra finished the weekend with two wins and one loss. Hofstra also signed a 72-70 win in the game between the two teams, despite a late comeback from Quinnipac. It was also the last game of the event.

The other three universities competing, UNCG (1-2), Stephen F. Austin (1-2) and Montana State (0-3), all when back home with negative records.

Those were sanctioned games by the NCAA. They will thus influence the qualification of each of those teams for the post-season tournament.

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L’article Place Bell Brings Many Smiles with NCAA Basketball Showdown est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

The event will bring together six American college teams, facing face off in a nine-game series from Nov. 25–27.

Three matches per day are scheduled between the teams of Stephen F. Austin, Quinnipiac, Montana State, UNCG, MTSU, and Hofstra.

“We invited all the NCAA teams for the event, and those are the ones that answered the call,” explained Emilio Zaga Mendez, brand manager at Evenko. “They’re sanctioned games, so they’ll directly influence the qualification of those teams for the post-season tournament.”

Indeed, it’s not only about preparatory games, like the one disputed between Duke and McGill University in this same building in 2018. The teams will thus have their best lineup on the field.

Laval’s Pick

Zaga Mendez believes Place Bell was the ideal location for the event due to the availability of the place, and the pool of basketball fans.

“We know Montreal and Laval are basketball fans,” he said. “Every year, the [Toronto] Raptors preseason games are working very well at the Bell Centre. We hope it will be a recurring event every year.”

Zaga Mendez sees the event as a “basketball clinic” for young fans of the sport, dreaming of making a career out of it.

Nancy Harold, executive director of the Association régionale de Basketball Laval, sees it the same way.

“It’s clear that it can interest our young people,” Harold assured. “What they need is to believe it’s possible. I think many parents can say basketball is a sport that can lead a young person to academic success, have discipline, team spirit and perseverance.”

Succession

Harold also believes the increase in interest in this sport could lead to the possible presence of a Laval player in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

“There’s talent here, and we believe the next Quebec NBA player is at Basketball Laval,” she said. “It’s such a rewarding sport for our young people, and it’s unfortunate that it’s not highlighted. We need more high-level basketball in Quebec.”

In total, the Association régionale de Basketball Laval plans to have around 50 young athletes from its program on site to attend the event.

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L’article NCAA Basketball Stops at Place Bell est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

Some important people of the Jeux du Québec were there to share their thoughts of the event so far. Among them was Marc DeBlois, executive director of the Organizing Committee of the event.

“Athletes will remember that first block for a while,” DeBlois said. “It was in fact our priority. We’re having a solid team.”

Christopher Skeete, MP for Sainte-Rose for the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ), was also at the press conference. He talked about the sport’s importance in the development of a young person. He also wanted to thank all the volunteers of the 55e Finale des Jeux du Québec – Laval 2022.

“It’s something to be able to see those athletes having fun, but also to see them becoming better citizens through sport,” Skeete said. “I also have a special mention for volunteers. They’re smiling, they’re dedicated. There is a volunteer who stayed up for seven hours on the opening ceremony day. It’s the kind of community effort that brings life to a city. That’s my greatest pride.”

Executive director of Sports Quebec, Isabelle Ducharme, said she was impressed by the quality of competition sites.

Second block

L’article Jeux du Québec: Recap of the First Block est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

The evening was hosted by Émilie Duquette and Alexandre Despatie, both of whom played the Jeux du Québec at a younger age. They were impressed by the energy of all the young athletes present for the ceremony.

THE SHOW

Laval has reserved a light show for the athletes and parents at Place Bell, offering impressive laser effects and rhythmic music. Former Laval athletes were also at the opening ceremony to celebrate the start of the competition.

Gymnast William Emard had the honor of lighting the flame of the 55e Finale des Jeux du Québec. Emard participated at the Jeux du Québec, and now competes at the international level, with the goal of participating in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

L’article An Emotional Opening Ceremony est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

It took place at the Horizon Jeunesse high school, in Auteuil.

For the occasion, the 161 athletes, 41 coaches and companions, as well as the seven missionaries of Laval’s region met with Mayor of Laval Stéphane Boyer, and President of Sports Laval Geneviève Cossette.

“I just want to congratulate you on getting to where you are today,” Boyer said during the region’s meeting. I’m sure you are as excited as we are to be at the Jeux du Québec. […] We’re counting on you to make us shine. We want to show the other regions that we’re the best.”

“You can really be proud of that journey you’ve accomplished,” Cossette added. “As a mother of two girls practicing sports at the pre-national level, I know how much time you’re putting into training. […] For some athletes, it’s just the start of an amazing career. For others, it’s an unforgettable experience during which you’ll meet new people, create new links. Live it to the fullest.”

Cossette also took a moment to recognize the work of the parents, who get involved in helping their children participate in various sports competitions.

Ambassador

Gymnast Félix Dolci could not be at the region’s meeting. However, he still shared a message to the young athletes in a pre-recorded video.

“I’d like to congratulate you all for having surpassed yourselves throughout the year in order to be here today, and play the Jeux du Québec,” Dolci said.

Let’s remember that Dolci is the most decorated athlete in the history of the Jeux du Québec, but also Canada Winter Games. He participated twice in each of these competitions, winning a total of 18 medals.

Preparation and COVID-19

The rest of the evening was to prepare Laval’s athletes for the provincial competition, which will begin on Friday, July 22.

They’ve been informed on how to proceed when arriving on the site, and how their schedule works when it comes to mealtimes and bedtime.

Athletes will have to be tested five days before the start of their competition block, as well as the day before the competition.

They’ll also have to do a daily rapid test. If an athlete eventually tests positive for COVID-19, he will then be placed in isolation, before leaving the site facilities with a family member.

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L’article Laval’s Region Meets One Last Time Before the Jeux du Québec est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

Despatie’s career took off, in part, at the Jeux du Québec de Baie-Comeau, in 1993. Eight years old at the time, the two-time Olympic Games medalist had won gold in the diving event.

“It can be the start of something big for many young talents,” Despatie said. “It’s also about all the jokes we were making on the bus while going to our competitions. It marked me, and I’ll never forget that.”

Despatie said he never hesitated when we asked him if he wanted to be the spokesperson of the 55e Finale des Jeux du Québec, saying “yes” right away when the question was brought to him on the phone.

“It’s special for me to be able to be part, in a way, of the event, at home,” the former diver explained. “I want people to get in, since I know the impact it can have on the young athletes, the parents and the volunteers. I’ll want to give back to this event for the rest of my life.”

Take advantage of the site

Despatie reminds us the importance of enjoying every moment of the Jeux du Québec. Some of his personal favourite memories being between competitions, he advises athletes to take advantage of the facilities, the athletes’ village and other places prepared for the event.

“For me, it will be about the message I’ll share with them,” Despatie said. I want to enjoy those moments to meet them. I intend to go see what’s happening during competitions, and experience the energy that circulates around them.”

Many sports will obviously be played during the eight days of competition. Despatie says he’s excited to be able to see a bit of everything.

“I’m looking forward to see all the sports, even those I’m not really used to see,” he said. “I want to discover everything. We’ll build a schedule based on the competitions.”

L’article Alexandre Despatie: From Athlete to Spokesperson est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.

“I think it’s a little bit arrogant to give a precise position, but we want to finish as high as possible in the standings this year,” said team’s head coach Boubacar Coulibaly. “Our goal is to take control of every game in order to win, and we’re not afraid of anyone in the league.”

The FC Laval lost its first 7 games last year, but concluded the season with 7 wins in its last 10 battles, while having one of the youngest rosters in the PLSQ.

“You have to give the players credit because they have developed much faster than what I was expecting,” Coulibaly said.

Laval’s team already made sure to make it a better start this season with a 1-1 draw against the Celtix du Haut-Richelieu in its opening game, before defeating the Royal-Sélect de Beauport 2-1. Coulibaly’s team showed resilience by scoring its two goals in the last five minutes of play.

“The content of our games is very satisfying,” the head coach ensures. “[…] We can’t ask for much more than what our players gave. I think the results should have favored us a bit more.”

Youth

At its beginning in 2021, the FC Laval had a plan in mind, which was to offer as much playing time as possible to its young athletes in order to help them climb the ladder of the soccer world.

Again this year, a dozen of players from the first team are aged from 18 to 20. They’re helped by a few veterans, including Wandrille Lefebvre, who played with the Montreal Impact (now CF Montréal) in the MLS, and Adama Makan Sissoko.

“The way they’re preparing for practices and matches is pushing our young players to pay attention and look at how we manage a week of work,” Coulibaly pointed out when talking about his two veterans. “They’re examples and models who want to get closer to our young players. We’re really lucky to have them.”

The presence of many young athletes also allows the Laval coach to establish a game system that puts a lot of pressure on the opposite team.

“We have a team with very technical players who are moving forward quickly,” he said. “We like to have the ball, but often, we’re going toward the offensive zone really quickly. Sometimes, we can also let them have the ball, and decide to go take it at a specific time in order to dictate the rhythm.”

New Arrival

The PLSQ is counting on 12 teams for the 2022 season. Among them, there’s the arrival of the CF Montréal reserve team, which is playing in the MLS.

“That arrival is a very good thing for us,” Coulibaly said. “It will be a young and well-organized team. It’s also a partner of the FC Laval. It will allow them to see that there are some good young players in the league.”

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L’article The FC Laval is Aiming for the Top for the 2022 Season est apparu en premier sur Courrier Laval news.