The members of the men’s soccer team will have to quickly find their bearings, because they will immediately play a decisive first match as soon as they arrive in Rimouski. Head coach Gabriel Vanasse, who is in his second Games, was confident. “We have an excellent team and a happy mix of 13-year-old and 14-year-old players and a great team spirit. The practices of the last few months have gone very well and we hope to win our first game against Mauricie. We get off and we play. And if we lose, we will play in the small tournament, which will be less interesting,” he mentioned shortly before leaving Saguenay.
[ À LIRE AUSSI: Jeux du Québec: le Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, 13e au classement provisoire du Bloc 1 ]
Barely back from the Canadian Championships, mountain bike head coach Alexandre Villeneuve-Gagné barely had time to do his laundry when he was packing up his luggage for the Quebec Games. But the Félicinois is a veteran of the Quebec Games, he who will be in his sixth, three as an athlete (athletics) and three as a coach (once in athletics and two in mountain biking).
For him, it is important that young people savor this experience and its beautiful moments.
“It’s a super fun experience and as I said to young people, in my last year of eligibility for the Quebec Games in athletics, I decided not to go (to the national championships) of the Canadian Legion to go to the Quebec Games!”
— Alexandre Villeneuve-Gagne
Alexandre Villeneuve-Gagné believes that his proteges have a good chance of podium finishes. “On the minimal side especially. Without wanting to put pressure on them, Zack Dubois (Saint-Félicien) was still quite dominant this season in the Quebec Cup. There is Matthew Allard and Raphaël Lavoie (also from Saint-Félicien) who still did well and can still cause a surprise. For the others, it will be experience to get and the opportunity to live a great moment.
First in women’s baseball
For the first time at the Quebec Games, women’s baseball is part of the disciplines on the program. Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean will be able to count on a team that should be able to do well. “We have a great group of players. We have been in training since May and our chances are good,” said assistant coach Lucien Côté (Saint-Honoré).
“We know that the big centers have good teams, but we think we are good at qualifying for the playoffs. We have very good pitchers, very good hitters and the team plays well defensively,” he said.
Absent from archery at the Laval Games last year for lack of athletes, the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean will be able to count on a delegation of six archers out of a possible eight. Despite three Jeux du Québec as an athlete and as many as a head coach, Tommy Plante didn’t really know what to expect as a result. “We have a good succession, but it’s hard to say if we have medal potential, because there are regions that seem to have been less affected by COVID or that they have had better recovery plans.” What is certain is that there will be many archery athletes who have never competed together. His six protégés will be in their first provincial competition.
It is his passion for his sport and the desire to give back to others that motivate him to work as a coach at the Quebec Games.
“I’ve been in this for 20 years. And when you have a successor, you have to take care of it. We also have to give back to the next, because we have coaches who have brought us there, ”he underlines.
30 years of Games
For Francine Alice Perron, archery official, the Quebec Games is a long love story that spans some 30 years. “I took part in the Winter Games in 1976, when it was the Jako Games in Jonquière. I got to know the Jako Games, where I worked as a cook. I cooked meals at night to serve them during the day. It is therefore a long love story, ”says the one who will only have been absent at the Laval Games in 2022.
The most beautiful Games she has experienced are those of summer in Alma in 1999, when she was a member of the host organization. For her, the pleasure is still there, even after three decades. “It’s pleasant! I have always loved being with young people. I even ran a Breakfast Club for several years. I love being with young people. It keeps me fit and it keeps me young and it motivates me. And to see the brilliance of young people when we take them to the Quebec Games.
Finally, note that in addition to mountain biking, soccer, women’s baseball and archery, the region will also have representatives in men’s golf, artistic swimming, women’s volleyball and sailing.
2023-07-25 17:19:56
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