Samuel St-Pierre was named today to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Technical Commission. This appointment endorsed by the league’s management will be an asset in relying on the expertise of a former QMJHL player. The Technical Commission is composed of individuals—independent of the QMJHL—mandated to define the guidelines of the players’ Individualized Development Program (IDP) and make recommendations to the League’s board.

St-Pierre played in the QMJHL for three seasons, for the Victoriaville Tigres and the Drummondville Voltigeurs where he was also captain. During his junior career he scored 96 goals and made 63 assists for a total of 159 points in 198 games.

At 17, he got drafted by the Tampa-Bay Lightning in the NHL and was signed to a three year contract with the team. He began his professional career playing for the Detroit Vipers in the IHL. The following season, he played one season in the ECHL with the Johnstown Chiefs before heading to Europe for three years where he played with teams in Norway and Germany. For the past 10 years, he’s been organizing a golf tournament which has raised $75 000 for minor hockey in Plessisville, where he currently resides.

The other members of the Technical Commission are : Yves Archambault, Michel Boucher, André Fournier, Gérard Gagnon, Wayne Halliwell and Allan Power. Marcel Patenaude, QMJHL Executive Vice-President is the coordinator on the Commission and Dr. George Larivière, a well known personality in the world of hockey, is the president.

About the Individualized Development Programme (IDP)

• Implement a methodical and rigorous follow-up of players’ integral development while ensuring their health and safety.
• Coordinate and improve player supervision by QMJHL teams.
• Upgrade the tools used to control and evaluate player potential.
• Develop a player «digital» file.
• Organize an annual development camp for players eligible for the NHL Entry Draft.
• Create a strategy to promote the talent of QMJHL players.
• Maintain internal and external communications, mainly with Hockey Quebec and the different branches of Hockey Canada within the QMJHL’s territory.