Canadiens Feeling Heat Over Interim Coach's Language Limitations

The Canadiens and Owner Geoff Molson are "under blistering criticism for naming a coach who doesn’t speak French for the first time since 1970," according to Les Perreaux of the GLOBE & MAIL. The Canadiens on Saturday fired coach Jacques Martin and replaced him with interim head coach Randy Cunneyworth. Although public opinion "appeared to be split among diehard hockey fans, many of whom just want to see the team win, pundits, politicians and nationalists fueled the controversy." Nationalist groups "called for a boycott of Molson products while former team executives such as Serge Savard, along with provincial political leaders of all parties, insisted the coach of the Canadiens should speak French." Molson said that Canadiens GM Pierre Gauthier chose assistant coach Cunneyworth to take over because he "needed a quick spark to improve the moribund team." Molson, a native Quebecer who speaks French fluently, added the ability to speak French and English will be "a very important factor in the selection of a permanent head coach" (GLOBE & MAIL, 12/20). In Montreal, Pat Hickey notes with the exception of former coach Bob Berry "in the early 1980s, every Canadiens head coach since then has been fluent in French, and former team president Pierre Boivin went as far as to say it was an absolute requirement for the job." Hickey notes opinion "has been front and centre in some francophone media outlets since Cunneyworth replaced Martin," but when "you hire someone to do a job, you want the best person for that job and you want to cast the widest net." Hickey: "Throw language out of the equation and you have scores of possible candidates. Limit the candidates to those who speak French and the pool is much smaller" (Montreal GAZETTE, 12/20).

JOUEZ A GAGNER: YAHOO SPORTS' Nicholas Cotsonika wrote, "There are howls for Cunneyworth's tongue." To some "fans and media in Montreal, the debate goes beyond whether Cunneyworth can do a better job than Martin did." It goes to "whether he should have the chance at all, to the very heart of what the Habs represent." Cunneyworth's "primary job is to communicate with players, and the working language of the NHL is English." Above all, the Canadiens "should hire the coach who gives them the best chance to win." Cotsonika: "No one should be insensitive to the Canadiens’ unique cultural and practical concerns. There is certainly something to be said for the Habs’ having a Francophone coach." But the Canadiens "aren’t just covered by independent media in both languages; they have rights-holders in both languages paying for video and audio." With fewer French-speaking players "in the dressing room these days, it is easier to have a French-speaking coach who can feed this beast of particular taste." It is both "harder to be French and harder to win today." But if "you limit yourself to Francophone players and coaches, you're putting yourself at a distinct disadvantage." Canadiens fans "are renowned for being the most sophisticated in the sport." If they "like what they see, maybe they won’t care as much about what they hear" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 12/19).