Kevin Lowe almost never became the Remparts captain in his final year in the QMJHL in 1978-1979.
The anecdote comes from Jocelyn Faucher, his former partner who has become a good friend over time. At the time, the World Hockey Association (WMA) teams did not hesitate to deploy large sums of money to recruit young players to convince them to make the jump immediately to the professionals.
The Birmingham Bulls had also convinced Michel Goulet to turn his back on the Remparts in the summer of 1978 for a salary of US $ 50,000 after having scored 73 goals in 72 games in his 17-year year. According to Faucher, Lowe received a similar offer from the Bulls.
“He received the same offer, but his mother told him that he had signed up with the Remparts and that he should continue. Rather than having $ 50,000, he had $ 50 a week with the Remparts. He had to repeat this anecdote to me three or four times over time, ”said the most punished player in the first edition of the Remparts.
Without mentioning this case specifically, Martin Madden remembers that the Bulls were very active in recruiting promising young talents.
“I was not directly involved, but that summer, Birmingham was trying to pick up several young players. It was their way of building their team and Kevin had been pretty dominant the previous year at 6’2 “and 200 pounds. He was an attraction for these teams, ”said the former Nordic CEO.
Chosen after Goulet
A few weeks after completing the calendar with 26 goals and 86 points, Lowe will become the very first choice in the history of the Oilers (21st overall) during the NHL drafting session, just behind Goulet.
“To finish the year in Quebec, I think it served him well. If he had played pro, he would have possibly been drafted earlier and he would not have had the chance to be drafted by the Oilers and to play with Gretzky and all the others who made the Oilers a dynasty, “added Madden.
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