Laval, Quebec – MAPEI Inc. is proud to announce a long-term sponsorship commitment to the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). With its storied history, the organization has cultivated such notable star National Hockey League players as José Théodore, Luc Robitaille, Claude Giroux, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and the current head coach of the Montréal Canadiens, Claude Julien; and head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, Alain Vigneault.
"In recent years, the city of Gatineau and MAPEI have developed a fantastic working relationship, built on a number of successful construction and restoration projects, from Maison de la Culture to Fire Station #3, and now the state-of-the-art Centre Slush Puppie, well underway," MAPEI representative Justin Lafontaine said. "So it gives us great pleasure to announce our commitment to sponsor the Gatineau Olympiques, who will make the new arena their home upon its completion."
As for the Olympiques players themselves, they were disappointed to have their 2020-21 season put back on hold until at least January, 2021, due to COVID-19 restrictions, after they were able to put together an impressive 6-4 record during the season and 3-3 in the Quebec City bubble throughout the month of November. With no less than four top-ten QMJHL draft picks freshly added to their line-up, including #1 overall Tristan Luneau of Victoriaville, Québec, under new Head Coach and General Manager Louis Robitaille, the team was eager to show their fans they are a much improved squad from the one that finished the 2019-20 season with only 23 victories in 68 matches.
According to Olympiques President Norm McMillan, the players are healthy and keeping in shape while they rest up over the holiday season. “In December last year, we made a 180 shift, and we are now in the good direction. We hired quality people, with experience to bring the Olympiques on the road to victory. The changes we have made over the past year have been challenging for the employees, but very well received by our supporters and partners. We seek to be closer to our fan community, but also to our professional community. A new partnership like the one we have with MAPEI brings a wind of renewal for the organization. We are very pleased to have you with us. Players are our priority, if they are happy and well treated, we maximize our chances of success on the ice."
About the QMJHL and the Gatineau Olympiques
The QMJHL (sometimes referred to as "the Q") is one of the three major junior men's ice hockey leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League. Its mission is to develop hockey by supporting its elite players, aged 16 to 20, both academically and athletically within a safe and enriching environment in order to prepare them for their adult life. Perhaps the most storied team in league, the Olympiques have represented the city of Gatineau in the QMJHL since 1973, when it was still known as Hull. Since 1986, they have won seven President Cup league championships - more than any other club - each time earning a berth in the prestigious CHL championship Memorial Cup Tournament. They reached the final four times, going on to win the Memorial Cup once, in 1997.
About MAPEI and Sport
As surely as the late Giorgio Squinzi (and former MAPEI Group CEO) made sport and community involvement an important endeavor for MAPEI, we remain committed to his vision here in Canada. "Never stop pedalling" was the metaphor he often used to describe his approach to life and work. Today, the Squinzi legacy is carried on through the MAPEI family’s proud support of numerous pursuits in amateur sport, including cycling, skiing, ice hockey, and even racing in concrete structures.
Established in 1937, MAPEI Group is globally headquartered in Italy with 90 subsidiaries, including 83 plants in 35 countries. MAPEI is the world-leading manufacturer of mortars, grouts, adhesives and complementary products for installing all types of flooring and wall coverings. The company specializes in developing chemical products for every aspect of construction, from waterproofing and structural strengthening to concrete repairs and tunnel building.
Headquartered in Deerfield Beach (Florida), MAPEI North America consists of the subsidiaries MAPEI Corporation (for the USA), MAPEI Inc. (for Canada) and MAPEI Caribe (for Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands), whose 18 facilities collectively have a workforce of more than 1,700 employees. MAPEI facilities have been certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards. An environmentally conscious manufacturer that reinvests 5% of its revenue into R&D, MAPEI offers training for architects, contractors, installers and distributors through the MAPEI Technical Institute. For more about MAPEI, visit www.mapei.com or call 1-800-42-MAPEI (1-800-426-2734).
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