Jeff Petry's wife got shunned in Montreal for not speaking french

Reporting on stories like this is never fun.

Julie Petry, the wife of Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jeff Petry, recently shared an Instagram story about being shunned while shopping for herself and her family. Julie, according to her account, went to a local Costco and was mistreated because she doesn't speak French, which is understandable given that neither she nor her husband were born in a French-speaking area.

Here is Julie's story in her own words.




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. Unfortunately for the Montreal Canadiens, this would only serve to reinforce many players' negative perceptions of playing in the 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 could jeopardise their potential ability to attract players.