From the Eastern Bloc to Québec City: the saga of the Šťastný brothers
In 1980, a hockey tournament was held in Austria, featuring teams from several communist Eastern Bloc countries. At the time, it was forbidden for athletes from these countries to emigrate to the West. Marcel Aubut and Gilles Léger, two executives of the Quebec Nordiques, organized the incredible escape of brothers Peter and Anton Šťastný, two talented hockey players from Czechoslovakia. The following year, the Nordiques also managed to bring a third and older brother, Marián. These pioneering siblings from Eastern Europe were responsible for a major chapter in the international history of Québec City ice hockey, much to the delight of the locals!
René Saint-Pierre
In 1981, Marián Šťastný joined his brothers Anton and Peter in Québec City. Under close surveillance by the Czechoslovak authorities, he had been unable to follow them when they fled in 1980. In June 1981, these measures were relaxed and Marián managed to get to Canada with his family. Then he also joined the Quebec Nordiques.
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