QMJHL | The new Commissioner Mario Cecchini presented to the public

(Montreal) The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (LHJMQ) presented Thursday at a press conference its new commissioner, Mario Cecchini, who will officially replace Gilles Courteau from May 8.

Martin Lavallée, Acting Commissioner, will assume the functions until this date.

After 37 years in office, Gilles Courteau resigned on March 5, despite having previously announced that he would end his reign as commissioner in 2024.

The QMJHL is at the heart of allegations of sexual abuse and violent initiation activities.

In a statement shared on his Twitter account, Courteau said that these “recent events have taken on such proportions that the members of [his] family were tested”.

President of the QMJHL members office, Richard Létourneau mentioned that at the end of the hiring process, accelerated due to Courteau’s departure, Cecchini was the unanimous candidate.

“He came in with an exceptional presentation,” Létourneau said. In our job description, the main skills and qualities we were looking for were high caliber knowledge of the sports environment, an ability to mobilize groups towards the same goal and strong interpersonal skills with a strong sense of diplomacy. »

Létourneau said that the desired candidate must also show expertise going beyond the sports world and must be able to express themselves well orally and in writing in French and English, formally and informally. Marketing abilities were in demand and Cecchini had that as well.

Cecchini says he is excited about the new opportunity that comes his way. The new commissioner of the QMJHL was president of the Alouettes, but worked on several hockey files before.