Key figure from Quebec hockey honored in Saint-Laurent

It was from his wheelchair that Caron was introduced in front of some 50 fans, former students, hockey professionals and politicians, brought together at the CEGEP to pay tribute to him. Speaking in turn, Caron’s friends and former colleagues made a point of attesting to their friendship and their admiration towards him.

A professor at Saint-Laurent College from 1956 to 1966 where he coached the hockey team, Caron is considered to be a great builder of the hockey tradition in Quebec.

"Prof. Caron always knew, thanks to his strong personality and teaching abilities, how to earn the respect of his students,” said Jean-Louis Mongrain, a former player of the College Senior A team. “Through the practice of the sport, he succeeded in teaching us a way of life and discipline which still guides us today.”

Described as an exceptional person, Caron stressed that Saint-Laurent represents for him the beginning of a long enthralling career in hockey. “Saint-Laurent was a very special place for me because the College was where I was given my first chance,” said Caron. “In hockey, it is easy to take a chance, when you do not love the players any more, you kick them out. But at the college, they truly took a chance and I thank them today for their confidence," he added, laughingly.

From 1961 to 1983 Caron was a scout for the Montreal Canadiens and then became assistant to general manager Sam Pollock. According to several of his former colleagues, Caron hated to lose, which motivated the players.

"As an employee, he was a model, and the Montreal Canadiens were lucky to have him in the organization during all his years,” explained former Montreal Canadiens player Serge Savard with nostalgia. “If I could describe him in a few words, I would say that he was an example of honesty and generosity."

In 1983, Caron became general manager of the St-Louis Blues, offering to Jacques Demers the chance to become team coach. "I would never have returned there without him,” said the man who coached the Blues for three years. “He believed in me, a French Canadian, and I think that he literally saved the team which never missed the playoffs."

Victim of a stroke in 2002, Caron came to the microphone with the right side of his body partially paralyzed, but all the same with an enormous smile. Very touched to see College de Saint-Laurent’s arena bearing his name, he made a point of thanking all his friends for their kind words. "The true question is what I did to deserve such an honor,” said Caron. “I think that I did my best, I put my heart in the sport I love, but more importantly, I worked with very special people, who helped me to achieve what I worked so hard for."

The tribute to Caron ended with a hockey items auction to raise funds for the female hockey team at Cegep de Saint-Laurent. (Translated by Michael Beigleman)