Doctor Mark Aubry, Doctor Georges Larivière, Doctor Steve Norris and Doctor Norm
O’Reilly accept lead roles as Summit keynote speakers
MONTREAL, June, 22 2011 – The 2011 Molson Export Quebec Hockey Summit Steering Committee
today announced the four keynote speakers who will each address one key topic during the event: Long Term
Player Development, Player Development Through the Programs of Excellence, Creating a Safe Environment
Through Positive Behaviour and Attitude and Recruitment and Retention of Players.
The Steering Committee is also please to announce that registration for this unique event being held at
the Bell Centre in Montreal on August 26 and 27 is open to the public. A limited number of tickets are
available for the event, which includes an opening reception and Hot Stove sessions Friday evening and the
full Summit program on Saturday, August 27.
Doctor Steve Norris - Topic #1: Long Term Player Development
Originally from England, Doctor Norris was the Director of Sport Physiology & Strategic Planning at
the Canadian Sport Centre Calgary for the past three Winter Olympic cycles (2002, 20), focusing on
Canada’s winter sport teams. He acted as the central performance consultant for the “Own The Podium”
initiative leading up to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C. He has worked with Hockey
Canada for the past 15 years, most notably with the National Women’s Team program for 12 of those years.
In addition, Dr. Norris is a member of the Sport Physiology Group/Altitude Research Group, headed by David
Smith, within the Human Performance Laboratory at the University of Calgary. He is a recognized authority on
long-term athlete development and talent nurturing systems. Most recently, Norris was appointed adjunct
professor (applied physiology) at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alta., after being an adjunct assistant
professor (applied physiology) at the University of Calgary for the past decade.
Doctor Georges Larivière – Topic #2: Player Development Through the Programs of
Excellence
Over the course of his career, Doctor Georges Larivière judiciously conciliated work as a university
professor with research and a unique forward thinking approach in a number of endeavours. The author of
numerous publications, he has written a number of pieces on the detection and development of talent, growth
and biological maturity as well as the state of physical conditioning.
Since his retirement from l’Université de Montréal, he has been an active speaker, consultant and
teacher for several sports organizations. His vast knowledge and experience make him a keen problem solver
who can anticipate changes and propose solutions.
Dr. Georges Larivière was the head coach of the Granby Bisons of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
during the 1985-86 season.
Doctor Mark Aubry – Topic #3: Creating a Safe Environment Through Positive Behaviour and
Attitude
Doctor Aubry is the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and CMO
of Hockey Canada. Furthermore, he was the acting CMO of the Canadian Olympic Team at the 1992 Olympic Winter
Games and of the Canadian Universiade Team in 1991. He is also a member of the IOC Medical Commission
Co-Director of the Ottawa Sport Medicine Centre.
Dr. Aubry helped organize the Symposium on Concussion in Sport, leading to the agreement statement on
concussion in sport (2001 in Vienna and 2004 in Prague). He was also instrumental in helping to organize the
third international Symposium on Concussion in Sport (2008 in Zurich) and currently is one of the team
physicians for the NHL’s Ottawa Senators.
Doctor Norm O’Reilly – Session #4: Recruitment and Retention of Players
Doctor O’Reilly is an associate professor in sport management, specializing in sport business. He teaches
courses related to sport management, sport finance, and sport marketing. Dr. O’Reilly teaches in both
official languages.
Dr. O’Reilly holds a PhD in Management from the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University, an MBA
from the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa, an MA in Sports Administration from the
University of Ottawa, and a B.Sc. (Kinesiology) from the University of Waterloo. Dr. O’Reilly also holds
the CGA Accounting Designation.
The 2011 Molson Export Quebec Hockey Summit’s theme is to address the challenges facing hockey in the
Province of Quebec today. Discussion will revolve around four main topics:
- Long term player development: Exploring opportunities for development based on age; analyzing the
development arc; actions currently being taken in Quebec; challenges facing development in Quebec.
- Player development through the Program of Excellence: Development opportunities for 16 year-old players
and older; options following their internship; actions currently being taken in Quebec.
- Creating a safe environment through positive behaviour and attitude: Issues facing player health,
including concussions; studies on hockey injuries; impact of rules; importance of adequately utilizing body
checks and how players can better protect themselves on the ice
- Recruitment and retention of players: Presentation of the demographic statistics from the Province of
Quebec; Hockey Québec membership; new activities and initiatives; women’s hockey.
For information regarding the registration process, visit www.quebechockeysummit.com. The cost for tickets is set
for $200.00 CDN.
Of note, honorary chairpersons, panellists and moderators will be announced at a later date.