The strategy was announced from Day 1. When Danny Maciocia and Mario Cecchini spoke to the media after being appointed respectively General Manager and President of the Alouettes, the pair had made it clear that the idea what to give local players the chance to play for their province’s team when they had the skills and talent to do so. The last two drafts reflected that strategy, and we are proud to now have 24 local players on our roster.
A number that reflects how Quebec is becoming one of Canada’s football hotbeds, considering a local team made it to the Vanier Cup final nearly every season for the past 20 years. Our local players have talent, they are part of very strong university football programs, hence it is very logical to see so many of them at the professional level.
At equal talent, it is also very logical to keep this talent in our province and give our young athletes the opportunity to play football in front of their fans for the team they grew up watching.
We are now looking forward to seeing all this local talent on the field.
Here is what General Manager Danny Maciocia had to say about this:
Danny Maciocia and Luc Brodeur-Jourdain on Radio-Canada
“Keeping local identity is essential for professional sports in Montreal.” -Danny Maciocia. https://ici.radio-canada.ca/ohdio/premiere/emissions/penelope/episodes/531898/rattrapage-du-mardi-11-mai-2021
The Alouettes draft many Quebecers (98.5FM)
“They are really good players and they are Quebecers” -Danny Maciocia. https://www.985fm.ca/audio/394688/les-alouettes-repechent-plusieurs-quebecois-on-en-parle-avec-le-dg-de-lequipe-danny-maciocia
What will be the Canadiens in 10 or 20 years? (Marc Defoy – Journal de Montréal)
“It’s funny to say, but the more “québécéois” professional team are the Alouettes, which used to be a bastion of the English-speaking community. There are 24 Quebec players on contract.” https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2021/05/09/que-sera-le-canadien-dans-10-ou-20ans
5 observations: yes to Quebec talent (Mathieu Boulay – Journal de Montréal)
“It happened last week with the Alouettes. English-speaking colleagues asked General Manager Danny Maciocia to explain why he drafted three French-speaking Quebecers out of his five players.” https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2021/05/10/5-constats-oui-au-talent-quebecois
