Welcome to Scott & Brian suite
Monday, 19.10.2009 / 2:26 PM / News
Montreal Canadiens
MONTREAL – Montreal Canadiens forwards Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta are teaming up off the ice to support the Montreal community and the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation by offering a Bell Centre suite that will provide less fortunate children with an opportunity to attend each Montreal Canadiens’ home game this season.
With this generous contribution Scott and Brian will make it possible for children to visit the Bell Centre and watch the Canadiens from a private suite where they will also enjoy catered food and games. “From the first day we got here, we wanted to get involved and do something for the children by giving them an opportunity to enjoy a memorable experience. This program is so much more than just getting kids to attend a hockey game, it’s a great way for them to gather together and have a great time” says Scott Gomez. The two teammates wanted to make sure the children would enjoy their visit to the Bell Centre, they mandated team mascot Youppi! to drop by the suite and meet the kids at each and every game.
“We’ve always been involved in activities that help children. We’re so lucky to have healthy kids. I understand what parents go through and what it means to be a parent and it’s great to be in a position to be able to give back,” explained Gionta.
After signing a few autographs, Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez let their inner children shine through, taking on a few of the kids and the Habs’ mascot Youppi! in a game of air hockey. “When I was younger I used to love going to watch practices in Buffalo. That’s always where I wanted to be because that’s when players would hand out sticks or pucks and that’s where we really had the chance to be close to them,” added Gionta.
Asked if he was planning to look up at the kids’ suite the next time he scores at the Bell Centre, Gionta replied, “absolutely, why not?” before sending the smiling kids home with handfuls of signed Habs gear to keep as souvenirs.
Since its inauguration in the fall of 2002, the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation, thanks to the generous support of former players like José Théodore and Alex Kovalev, has welcomed over 1,500 children who enjoyed an unforgettable experience watching the game from the suite. Now, with the help of Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta, young patients from Sainte-Justine Hospital, the Montreal Children’s Hospital and several charitable other organizations working with sick or underprivileged children from all over the province of Quebec will have an opportunity to see the Canadiens in action at the Bell Centre.
Les Amis de Scott & Brian Suite has already welcomed young guests at all of the Canadiens pre-season games and the first two home games of the 2009-10 regular season.
About the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation
The Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation is determined to provide a better and healthier future for children in need, and is committed to encourage and promote a healthy and active lifestyle among the youth. In January 2009, the Foundation launched its flagship BLEU BLANC BOUGE program with the inauguration of the first of five refrigerated multipurpose outdoor community rinks at François-Perrault Park in the Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension borough.
Since its inception in August 2000, the Foundation has donated in excess of $8.4 million to over 350 charitable endeavours working to support the well-being of children across Quebec.
