Julie Petry, the wife of Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jeff Petry, recently shared an Instagram storey about being discriminated against while shopping for herself, her family, and, of course, Jeff Petry. Julie, according to her account, would have gone to a local Costco and been mistreated because she doesn't speak French, which is understandable given that neither she nor her husband were born in a French-speaking country.
First and foremost, I don't want to portray the entire province of Quebec with a wide brush because I'm sure the vast majority of residents will never accept such prejudice, but this is an unfortunate tale that is much more widespread than it should be. Both French and English, and how they are used in the province of Quebec, have always been controversial, especially in relation to the Charter of the French Language, also known as Bill 101. That is not, however, a subject we will discuss today.
Unfortunately for the Montreal Canadiens, this would only serve to reinforce many players' negative perceptions of playing in this market, making it more difficult for them to attract free agents who often prefer to go elsewhere when the opportunity arises. When it comes to the Montreal market, players not only have to deal with a fervent fan base, which can be a plus, but they also have to deal with both French and English media.
Stories like this spread quickly, and both players and their partners in the National Hockey League are often in contact with one another. This will undoubtedly hit the ears of many players around the league, and unfortunately for the Canadiens, who have done nothing wrong in this situation, it will jeopardise their potential ability to attract players.
