GRANBY, Québec – After working as an executive with Pont-Rouge, Trois-Rivières, Thetford Mines, and Saint-Georges teams, Michel Godin became vice president and then commissioner of the Ligue nord-américaine de hockey in December 2008. This occurred after the resignation of longtime big boss Michel Gaudette. In a very short period of time, Godin managed to institute big changes to the LNAH.
ProHockeyNews.com sat down with Michel Godin and talked with him about the “new” LNAH, the challenges it faces and its future.
ProHockeyNews.com : Mr. Godin, are you satisfied of what you’ve seen on the ice this season?
Michel Godin : I’m very satisfied. Anyone who has seen a couple of games of the LNAH lately will tell you the same thing: in all those years, the level of play has never been so high. The standing, which is so close, show clearly how there’s parity between our teams. It’s great to see more and more good players join the league.
PHN : Some important changes were made in the rulebook this season. For example, teams now have the obligation to have a certain number of players under 25 in the line-up. But, most of all, the league declared war on hooking, which was a major problem in the LNAH. Do you feel you had no choice but to do so?
MG : Hooking was a major problem in all hockey, and we all saw how the National Hockey League dealt successfully with it. We have some excellent skaters in our league, and it’s our responsibility to let them skate and let them express their talent. Of course, players and coaches had to adjust to the new rules, and it wasn’t easy. I remember it wasn’t easy in the NHL either. But we had to do it. Watching an LNAH’ game is a much more fun experience now. 
PHN : There’s less hooking and there are fewer fights as well in the LNAH. Is it why more and more good players are saying yes to the league?
MG : I think so. I think guys who are coming from Europe, the ECHL, the American Hockey League and even the NHL feel there will be security now playing the LNAH. The league still offers robust hockey and we want it to stay like this. But we were tired of overflow, big brawls and everything. And because we work hard to stop hooking and to protect our players, the LNAH had become a very good option for guys after they finished their junior career. We’re not the last option anymore.
PHM : The LNAH offers its best hockey ever but draw less fans than ever too. What do you understand from that?
MG : There are two things. Maybe the fans need to adjust to the “new” LNAH but there’s the economy too. People have less money in their pockets and they’re thinking twice before spending $15 on a hockey game. We have less fans in our arenas but attendance in the Québec Major Junior Hockey League (editor’s note: LNAH’s main competitor in terms of drawing spectators) are going down too this season. It’s not easy for anyone.
PHM : But don’t you think the league has a serious image problem? On one side, there are the people who are not going to the LNAH because they don’t have 10 fights per game like in the old days. On the other side, you have those who don’t want to know anything about the LNAH because they still think it’s only fighting.
MG : We do have an image problem. For sure, we need time to establish our credibility.
PHM : Will the owners, with some of them losing a lot of money right now, be patient?
MG : I hope so. But even if the situation is tough for some of them, I think everyone strongly believes in the “new” LNAH.
PHM : The league has seven teams right now, a number very hard to deal with in terms of schedule, playoffs and everything. Do you plan to add at least another team next season?
MG : Three groups have shown interest and we are studying the project right now. The only thing I can tell you is that they all come from the Montreal region (editor’s note: the LNAH has no team in the Montreal region). Yes, we would really, really like to have an eight team league next season. The best thing would be a nine team league, so we could have eight clubs in the playoffs. Every team is making the playoffs right now and I don’t like it at all.
PHM : Are you optimistic about the future of the LNAH?
MG : Yes, I am. We did a lot in the last year to improve our game, to change the way people see the LNAH, and I’m very confident hockey fans will “buy” our product. Each and every game, we put a good show on the ice, we offer high quality hockey. I know there’s a market for us in the Province of Québec, there’s a place for us in the world of minor pro hockey. Yes, I’m optimistic.
Contact the writer at: Michel.Tasse@prohockeynews.com
