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An irresistible madman’s job

Claude Julien had a brilliant tan when he returned to work a month ago. Two or three weeks later, he had regained his hockey season complexion. Yesterday his body gave him a warning saying, “Moderate your transports, friend!” “

We live in a stressed and stressful world, no matter what type of work we do. It’s even worse since a virus that science has called COVID-19 took our lives hostage. Workers are losing their situation.

It is alarming!

Julien earns his living in sports-entertainment. But for him like any other coach, the notion of entertainment does not exist.

He doesn’t have a money problem, but that doesn’t stop him from giving his all to his job.

Live for victory

The news of his hospitalization leaves no one indifferent.

Michel Bergeron was playing golf when I called him in the middle of the afternoon yesterday. He called me from his car around 4:30 p.m. on his way home.

When I asked him if he had played a round to his liking, golf had become secondary.

“I’m a little in shock,” he replied, thinking of Julien.

The good news is that Julien didn’t have a heart attack. But he must be thoughtful. He is no doubt wondering what to do next.

“When you win in the junior ranks or in the minor leagues, that’s what allows you to reach the National League,” Bergeron continued.

“Once there, you only think of one thing and that is to win. It becomes your reason for living. Claude has been coaching in the National League for 18 years. He won a Stanley Cup, while being fired three times.

“Fortunately, coaches are paid more today than in my day. “

A first episode in Quebec

Coaches are passionate. Their profession absorbs them so much that they go overboard with things of everyday life and often neglect their well-being.

Bergeron suffered a first episode of health when he was leading the Nordiques. He had been admitted to the hospital with vision problems. He saw double.

Doctors told him that it was possible that he had multiple sclerosis. It was not, but the doubt remained for some time.

“It’s not in my book and I had never said it before today, to continue Bergeron on the phone.

“But I think Marcel Aubut and Maurice Filion were under this impression when they traded me to Rangers. “

After two seasons in New York, Bergeron returned to lead the Nordiques for one season.

A few months later, when he had retrained himself as a television and radio commentator, he suffered a first heart attack. He was only 44 years old.

It was hereditary.

His father hadn’t had a second chance. He had been struck down on his 46th birthday.

Demers’ turn

Two years after his attack, in 1992, Bergeron found himself in competition with Jacques Demers to succeed Pat Burns at the helm of the Canadiens.

Serge Savard dismissed Bergeron, citing his health history as the reason. The affair caused quite a stir.

However, in March 1993, Demers was rushed to the Montreal General Hospital, when he was seized with chest pains in his office at the Forum. Jacques Lemaire had replaced him for two games.

I recalled at the beginning of my text published the next day the reason that Jacques had given to his wife Debbie for having accepted the Canadian’s offer, nine months earlier.

“Honey, the Canadian is bigger than life,” he explained to her.

Three months after his mishap, he led the Habs to their most recent Stanley Cup victory to date. His job with the Canadiens was to be his last in the NHL, he told a former reporter from the Journal, Michelle Coudée-Lord.

Two years after his dismissal by the Canadiens, he found himself behind the bench of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“We’re crazy, coaches! »Bergeron asked me on the phone.

“One day, I told my wife, while I was working for TVA [dans les années 1990], that I had dreamed that Bobby Clarke, with whom I had a good relationship, had offered me to lead the Flyers.

“She replied: ‘Go take out the garbage!’

Take your time, Claude!

How will the Canadiens’ players react to the loss of Claude Julien for the rest of the series between them against the Flyers?

Michel Bergeron thinks that this unfortunate incident could bring the troops together even more.

“Claude is a gentleman, he said.

“Besides, he’s a modest man. I believe his players will rally for him. “

For the rest, Julien does not have to worry about anything, according to Bergeron.

“The Canadiens are a great organization,” he said.

“Claude can sleep in peace. The team will take good care of him. His contract will be respected until it expires [2022].

“Claude must rest. He must think of himself, his wife, his children and his parents who are still with him. “

Go for Muller

You will have noted, moreover, that Marc Bergevin explained his decision to make Kirk Muller his interim coach, although he does not speak French.

There will no doubt be some to say that the post should have been entrusted to Dominique Ducharme.

Not sure.

Ducharme might be the first to say he’d rather make his big league head coach debut under more normal conditions.

I agree with Muller’s choice. It is true that he is an assistant above all, even if he carries the title of associate coach. In this sense, he compares himself to Larry Robinson, who, too, has more the soul of an assistant coach.

But as a former player who was known for his competitive spirit, he listens and respects the players.

Give it a chance.

When the season is over, we’ll see what happens with Julien. At this point, there is no reason to believe he will bow out.

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