Legends

Habs 100th anniversary videos

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!

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100th anniversary ceremonies

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.
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Habs on the Net – 2 articles about current and past Players

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.
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Montreal Canadiens Legend – Howie Morenz

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.

Remembering Le petit Viking – Mats Naslund

Mats Naslund.

That name brings back childhood memories of watching Canadiens games.

Mats Naslund was a very gifted offensive player. Standing at only 5 foot 7 inches he certainly was not the big power forward like say a Bobby Smith. But what Mats Naslund brought to the table was spectacular.

We were blessed to have him in Montreal for several years. Back in 1985-1986 Mats exploded for 43 goals and 67 assists for a total of 110 points. That was also the year that the Montreal Canadiens won their 23rd Stanley Cup.

Naslund was picked 37th overall in the second round of the 1979 NHL draft by the Montreal Canadiens.

In 1988 Naslund bet out Wayne Gretzky for the Lady Bing trophy and during the all-star game of that same year recorded 5 assists.

Naslund finished his career in Montreal with 612 points in 617 games. A point per game player over 8 years.

Watch him come out of nowhere to score a goal back in the 1980 winter olympics playing for Sweden vs West Germany. He had not yet played in Montreal.

Or who can resist seeing a video of Don Cherry… blasting Mats Naslund and 8 year old kids at the same time.

Without making a direct comparison to Mats Naslund but in the theme of small offensively gifted players we have Brian Gionta. He’s also 5′7. Let’s hope Jacques Martin makes sure he’s got room to play.

Mats Naslund was an awesome player.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mats_Naslund

Anyone have any memories or comments about Mats Naslund? Please feel free to leave your thoughts. I love reading them.

To Saku Koivu

After last season, it had been a while that the cries for a change were getting louder in Montreal. And I thought that a major change was certainly in order.

As July 1st came and went, I had (at first) felt some “doom and gloom” because I didn’t like the Gomez deal. And then with the UFAs that were signed, I felt a new optimism.

I somewhat knew that you (Saku) were not coming back to Montreal, and somehow that was ok.

But as a rumour broke about a slight chance that you (Saku) would return to Montreal.. I started thinking, not just about hockey, but about who you are and how you carried yourself as the captain and the face of the Montreal Canadiens.

I found myself caught in a little nostalgia to be honest, but aside from that, I couldn’t deny the fact that you carried yourself so well in spite of everything. In spite of the injuries that could have ended your career. In spite of the Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that certainly would have finished others….. you pushed on, with endless class and a commitment to your team.

I fully believe you gave %100 every time you hit the ice. Through the great highs and great lows of your time in the Montreal Canadiens organisation…. you gave it %100.

Through all kinds of media crap, language issues that in my opinion, you were a target of circumstance… you gave it %100.

Saku, you have been a model player, a model captain and a model citizen with the charity work you have done.

Today, your signing in Anaheim signals the true end of an era for the Canadiens. After the news broke, it started sinking in for me. That the face of the team I’ve loved for many years is no longer a member of the team.

I will truely miss you. I have spent many many hours cheering you and your linemates on over the years… sharing the highs and the lows of your career with the Montreal Canadiens.

I wish only the very best for you and your family and I do infact wish you all the success in Anaheim. I will continue to follow your play as much as I can.

The Anaheim Ducks know who and what they are getting in your signing… to quote Adam Brady on the Ducks blog:
“In Koivu, the Ducks are getting so much. They’re getting a terrific playmaker, a guy who scored more than 50 points each of the last six seasons, someone who takes pride in his defense as well. Just as importantly, they’re getting a born leader who had one of the toughest jobs in hockey — captain of the Montreal Canadiens — for the last decade, as long as anyone in the 100-year history of the team.”
(Ducks blog here)

And I really can’t help but feeling a little bit of … “don’t know what you got, until it’s gone”.

You will be missed. I hope you get another 8 to 10 minute standing ovation if/when you play in Montreal this year. You deserve it.

With respect,

Yves.

Historic Habs photos

Here is a great blog post showing off tons of classic Habs pics..

Amazing And Rare Photos From The Canadiens Past

Former Habs – Interviews 19/02/2009

Here’s a couple of interviews by Habs greats Lafleur and Cournoyer…

Maurice Richard Collection goin’ on sale

Check this out!

For any collectors our there, this should be a great grab.

http://www.habseyesontheprize.com/2009/1/31/743160/maurice-richard-collection