Montreal Gazette

Tremblay out of line with rehab comment

- PAT HICKEY phickey@postmedia.com twitter: zababes1

Mario Tremblay, who returned to broadcasti­ng after a mediocre head coaching stint with the Canadiens and eight seasons of riding on Jacques Lemaire’s coattails, dropped a bombshell last week when he suggested that a Canadiens player had twice sought help for a substance abuse problem.

In the days that followed, the player in question said he didn’t know what Tremblay was talking about. A Canadiens spokesman said he could neither confirm nor deny the report. And general manager Marc Bergevin said there “could be one, there could be 10” players who have availed themselves of the program administer­ed by the NHL and the NHLPA, but nobody would know because it is confidenti­al.

NHL players are subjected to random testing for performanc­eenhancing and recreation­al drugs, but there’s a difference in how positive tests are treated. Test positive for steroids and you face a suspension. If you’re smoking pot or snorting coke, there is no punishment unless you’re arrested for using or possessing an illegal substance. The players do receive counsellin­g as well as a reminder that help is only a phone call away.

The confidenti­al nature of the program encourages players to come forward and get help. Casually dropping a reference to a player’s problems on radio doesn’t help anyone.

Maybe Tremblay is upset that his own problems with alcohol were made public. He was pulled over for suspicion of speeding in 2013 and when the officer involved smelled alcohol on his breath, Tremblay invoked what former colleague Doug Camilli called the Important Persons Act. Displaying the same arrogance that marked his tenure behind the bench, he announced: “You can’t do this to me. I am Mario Tremblay.”

He then complicate­d the situation by accusing the officer of showing poor judgment, comparing him to P.K. Subban. He was subsequent­ly convicted of refusing to take a breathalyz­er test.

The NHL drug policy is going to become more complicate­d next season when using recreation­al cannabis becomes legal in Canada. When that happens, there will be 14 NHL cities where it will be legal to have a toke. Another six cities are in states that allow for medical cannabis use, which will be a boon to players with concussion-like symptoms and other ailments. There are six other cities where it has been decriminal­ized.

Texas, Tennessee and Florida still take a hard line, although the liberal folks in Dallas have a citeand-release policy, which means they treat it like a traffic ticket.

STRUGGLING IN NETS

Carey Price’s goaltendin­g woes have spread through the entire Canadiens’ organizati­on. Heading into training camp, there appeared to be an embarrassm­ent of riches and the question was how to get everyone enough playing time to stay sharp.

Price won Saturday night against the Rangers, but his goals-against average went up to 3.64 and his save percentage dropped to .883. Backup Al Montoya has a 4.20 GAA and a save percentage of .863. In Laval, Charlie Lindgren’s numbers are 3.60 and .883, and Zach Fucale is at 3.52 and .866. Michael McNiven, who was the best goalie in junior hockey last season, is struggling with the winless Brampton Beast. He has a 4.19 GAA and an .868 save percentage.

Speaking of Laval, Martin Reway’s bid to win an NHL job is over. He was placed on waivers this week and given his release so he can go back to Europe. Reway, who missed all last season with a heart problem, played in only half of Laval’s 10 games and had two assists.

COLLEGE REPORT CARD

Jake Evans, the Notre Dame centre who was the Canadiens’ seventh-round draft pick in 2014, is the leading scorer in U.S. college hockey with three goals and 15 points. Ryan Poehling, who was the Canadiens’ first-round draft in June, has eight points in five games for St. Cloud State, which is ranked No. 2 behind defending NCAA champion Denver. The 18-year-old Poehling had 13 points in 35 games last season.

CANADIAN WOMEN BACK ON TRACK

Meghan Agosta scored twice and Les Canadienne­s’ MariePhili­p Poulin had a goal as Team Canada defeated the U.S. 5-1 earlier this week in Boston. That ties their six-game pre-Olympic series at 1-1. Both teams have full-time training programs, but the Americans will be enjoying the weather in January. The Canadian team is based in Calgary while the U.S. team is training north of Tampa in Wesley Chapel, Fla.

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 ?? GETTY IMAGESFILE­S ?? Mario Tremblay may be upset that his own problems with alcohol were made public, Pat Hickey writes. He was convicted of refusing to take a breathalyz­er test after being pulled over for speeding.
GETTY IMAGESFILE­S Mario Tremblay may be upset that his own problems with alcohol were made public, Pat Hickey writes. He was convicted of refusing to take a breathalyz­er test after being pulled over for speeding.
 ?? PETER MCCABE ?? Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said there “could be one, there could be 10” players who have availed themselves of a substance abuse program administer­ed by the NHL and the NHLPA.
PETER MCCABE Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said there “could be one, there could be 10” players who have availed themselves of a substance abuse program administer­ed by the NHL and the NHLPA.
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