A Montreal Canadiens fan blog
Legends
Saku Koivu returns to Montreal
Jan 22nd
Tonight is the big game. Well, in one sense it is. In fact if you’ve been a fan of the Montreal Canadiens anytime in the last decade then you’re familiar with longtime captain Saku Koivu.
Koivu, during his tenure in Montreal, was one of my all time favorite players. In fact, back when Saku officially became a free agent, I wrote an article with my personal goodbye to him titled “To Saku Koivu“.
I can tell you that I’ve cheered the former Habs captain on for so many years that it will be hard not to cheer him on against the very team he once lead. Koivu had been an inspiration on many levels. Coming back from a few major injuries, a battle with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and a certain disrespect that I don’t believe he deserved as long time captain of the team. I know some might argue otherwise but I could never understand the hounding he took from certain media outlets because he couldn’t speak french.
I thought I’d share some info sent to me by Matthew Ross, host of Game Points on the Team990 (which happens to be one of my favorite sports channels… that’s my plug! haha) on some recent polling going on for Saku Koivu’s return to Montreal:
Will Saku Koivu (ANA) score a goal?
Yes +325 ( or 13/4)
No -450 ( or 2/9)
Will Saku Koivu (ANA) record a point?
Yes +140 (or 7/5)
No -170 (or 10/17)
Will Saku Koivu (ANA) be the first star of the Game?
Yes -150 (or 2/3)
No +110 (or 11/10)
There’s been quite a bit of stuff written about Koivu’s return to Montreal. I really enjoyed this article by Dave Stubbs of the Gazette titled “Emotional return for Captain K“.
I’m really hoping that Koivu gets a warm response from the crowd. Through his long tenure as captain he was the source of much emotion, but inspirational like coming back from his battle with cancer, or battling back from a near career ending eye injury…. or from his critics that continued to pound at him in papers and radio/TV talk shows that he should speak french.
Saku, I truly hope you get an incredible welcome tonight. You deserve it.
Habs 100th anniversary videos
Dec 5th
For any of you who weren’t able to view the festivities for the Habs 100th anniversary last night or for those of you who would just like to watch it again (and again…??).
Here are the videos from last night courtesy of Habs TV!
100th anniversary ceremonies
Dec 5th
Last night was a magical night for Montreal Canadiens fans. I thought they would have some special surprises planned but I couldn’t have guessed how it would have unfolded.
I watched RDS for many hours before the game and was impressed from the beginning. I thought it was just great.
When they dimmed the lights in the Bell Center I almost felt goose bumps all over.. I knew something pretty neat was gonna take place.
Then… when the pucks were dumped on the ice and I saw Patrick Roy walking on the ice in full gear…. I was in awe. It was awesome. Seeing all those guys jump on the ice brought back alot of memories. One guy I hadn’t noticed walk on the ice was Mats Naslund… later when he was introduced I was so pleased to see him there. He was one of my favorite players in his time in Montreal.
I won’t try to name every player that skated with the alumni… but let’s just say I thought it was very classy and very cool for the die hard Canadiens fans. Many of those guys I hadn’t seen in their playing days but like some of you (I’m sure) I’ve read about them and have seen their statistics over and over again. I’m not just really a fan of the Montreal Canadiens I’ve seen on the ice….. I’m a fan of the Montreal Canadiens rich history as much as I am the current team they ice year after year.
More >
Habs on the Net – 2 articles about current and past Players
Sep 15th
There’s lot’s of positive energy and excitement going on for the upcoming season… not just in Montreal.
A couple of articles caught my eye and I thought I would post links and a couple of comments.
More >
Montreal Canadiens Legend – Howie Morenz
Aug 13th
Howie Morenz is one of the legends in the Montreal Canadiens history. A legend for the NHL.
Howie Morenz started his career with the Montreal Canadiens in the 1923-1924 season. As a rookie he scored 13 goals and 3 assists. Pretty good numbers considering the season was only 24 games in length.
Morenz scored the Stanley Cup clinching goal for the Montreal Canadiens that year helping the franchise win it’s second Stanley Cup.
Playing for a total of 12 seasons with the Canadiens Morenz notched 257 goals and 160 assists in 460 games.
He was the scoring champ twice and won the Hart trophy 3 times, in 1928, 1930 and 1931. No one in Habs history has matched that since.
Howie Morenz was the first player to break the 50 point mark in league history. It happend on March 24th, 1928 against the Ottawa Senators. That season, 1927-1928, Morenz scored 33 goals and 18 assists for 51 points. That 51 points came in 43 games.
1929-1930 saw Morenz score 40 goals in 44 games.
On March 17th 1932 Howie Morenz became the league’s all-time points leader.
Howie Morenz was eventually traded to the Chicago Blackhawks where he played for 2 years before returning to the Montreal Canadiens to be reunited with longtime linemate Aurèle Joliat.
But sadly Morenz was badly injured in a game vs Chicago. His leg was broken in 4 places.
A month later Morenz died because of complications resulting from the injury.
Thousands paid their respect to Morenz in the old Forum.
Morenz was among the first 12 men inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1945.
The number 7 that he wore was the first to be retired by the Canadiens in 1937.
