Post by countsheep on Dec 19, 2007 15:49:18 GMT -4
Here's the English translation of the Boucher article; did it meself
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The subjective tone, strong opinions, and gratuitous criticism of Major Junior hockey fans on hockey forum web sites have become a problem for the QMJHL, says Guy Boucher, coach of the Drummondville Voltigeurs.
According to Boucher, negative comments on these sites have ended the careers of a few players, the latest being Éric Campeau-Charron, 18 years old, who left the Volts last Friday night after they lost a game in Gatineau. It seems that Campeau-Charron has quit hockey for good.
'The case of Campeau-Charron is one of many such examples. A lot of young players are psychologically destroyed by what is said on these discussion boards. People who write in these forums don't realize that the players they're talking about are, first and foremost, private individuals. Before destroying such young minds, people should think of how they would react if it was their own son being discussed. Maybe then they'd think a bit more before writing' - said Boucher, who has a Masters Degree in sports psychology.
The Volts' coach also mentioned the case of Francis Charette, a talented forward who quit the team a year ago to pursue his career in AAA Junior hockey.
'It's become a real problem in the Q. I don't think people are trying to be mean, but they don't seem to realize the impact that their words have on young people', said Boucher. 'These young people aren't professionals, they're in Junior hockey to develop their skills as individuals. These comments have an impact on their self-confidence and self-worth in their personal lives'.
Even if they recommend to players that they not read these discussion boards, Volts' management realizes that word of mouth is very powerful, since they themselves have often been the subject of unjustified criticism..
'If it's so hard for a man of 30 to read criticism and gratuitous attacks addressed towards him, imagine what it's like for a 17- or 18-year-old', said Boucher.
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The subjective tone, strong opinions, and gratuitous criticism of Major Junior hockey fans on hockey forum web sites have become a problem for the QMJHL, says Guy Boucher, coach of the Drummondville Voltigeurs.
According to Boucher, negative comments on these sites have ended the careers of a few players, the latest being Éric Campeau-Charron, 18 years old, who left the Volts last Friday night after they lost a game in Gatineau. It seems that Campeau-Charron has quit hockey for good.
'The case of Campeau-Charron is one of many such examples. A lot of young players are psychologically destroyed by what is said on these discussion boards. People who write in these forums don't realize that the players they're talking about are, first and foremost, private individuals. Before destroying such young minds, people should think of how they would react if it was their own son being discussed. Maybe then they'd think a bit more before writing' - said Boucher, who has a Masters Degree in sports psychology.
The Volts' coach also mentioned the case of Francis Charette, a talented forward who quit the team a year ago to pursue his career in AAA Junior hockey.
'It's become a real problem in the Q. I don't think people are trying to be mean, but they don't seem to realize the impact that their words have on young people', said Boucher. 'These young people aren't professionals, they're in Junior hockey to develop their skills as individuals. These comments have an impact on their self-confidence and self-worth in their personal lives'.
Even if they recommend to players that they not read these discussion boards, Volts' management realizes that word of mouth is very powerful, since they themselves have often been the subject of unjustified criticism..
'If it's so hard for a man of 30 to read criticism and gratuitous attacks addressed towards him, imagine what it's like for a 17- or 18-year-old', said Boucher.