Patrice Bergeron was always a huge Quebec Nordiques fan growing up in the shadow of Quebec City, so it would be logical the Bs center would long to play in front of his fellow Quebecois.
But it wont be as part of the Quebec Caravan League set to start on Sept. 27 in his native countryside. Bergerons agent, Kent Hughes, told CSNNE.com on Tuesday that the Bs alternate captain is unlikely to play in the Quebec Caravan League organized by fellow NHL skaters Max Talbot and Bruno Gervais.
Instead No. 37 is looking into possible playing opportunities in Europe like so many of his Bruins teammates. Per sources close to Bergeron, CSNNE.com has learned the Selke Trophy winner is leaning toward playing in the same Swiss League that signed Tyler Seguin although nothing has been determined at this point.
The first Quebec Caravan League contest will be held in the Chateauguay, a suburb of Montreal, and is expected to feature some of the best Francophone players out work during the NHL lockout: Marc-Andre Fleury, Kris Letang, David Desharnais, Mathieu Darche and David Perron along with Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Alex Burrows, Derrick Brassard and Simon Gagne.
The games are scheduled to take place on a weekly basis throughout the Quebec province and tickets can be purchased at a cost of 20 with the proceeds set to go to charity. While the Caravan League should boast some good talent, its expected that moving to Switzerland would place Bergeron in a much higher intensity situation while staying prepared for Bs duty.
Like all of Bergerons teammates that have already signed in Europe, the Bruins center will have an out clause allowing him to return to the NHL when the lockout is finally over. The Bruins pivot played in the AHL for the Providence Bruins as a 19-year-old during the last work stoppage that wiped out the entire 2004-05 hockey season.