by Amy, Managing Editor, HockeyPub.com (AllHabs.net)
PHILADELPHIA, PA — It’s been quite a while since Montreal and Quebec City faced off in a professional hockey game, but thanks to the current NHL lockout fans in Quebec are being treated to some high-quality on-ice entertainment with La Tournée des Joueurs (aka The Players Tour).
Quebec natives Maxime Talbot and Bruno Gervais created this concept when faced with the possibility of not playing hockey this season. Their solution? Start a traveling tournament in which professional hockey players visit various minor-league arenas all across Quebec and donate all of the proceeds to local hockey charities.
It didn’t take long for them to gather more than enough fellow-NHLers to fill a couple of teams, the tournament came to life and kicked off last week in Châteauguay. The players suited up in jerseys representing Montreal in red and Quebec City in white, a tribute to the former Canadiens/Nordiques rivalry. In the inaugural game, however, it was Montreal that came out victorious, winning 7-4. Corey Crawford was in goal for Montreal, with single goals scored by Jason Pominville, Andrei Markov, Mathieu Darche, Brian Gionta, Guillaume Latendresse and two goals scored by Max Talbot.
Lars Eller, Benoit Pouliot, Simon Gagné, and Steve Bernier scored goals for Quebec City. It was a fun night for the fans and the players, as noted in many of their Twitter accounts.
Hugely impressed with the way @Max25talbot & @bruno_gervais27 set up the game tonight. The barn was packed. Awesome fans. Thanks for coming!
— Colby Armstrong (@armdog) September 28, 2012
Unreal job tonight by @Max25talbot @bruno_gervais27. Great organization and a ton of fun. Hope the fans enjoyed. #nhlfans #theplayers
— Brian Gionta (@Giostyle21) September 28, 2012
Great job by @bruno_gervais27 and @Max25talbot for @LaTDJ. Great night and Thank you to Châteauguay. #bigwinmontreal
— Mathieu Darche (@matdarche52) September 28, 2012
This week starts the two-games-per-week schedule which Talbot and Gervais had originally hoped for, with a game in St-Hyacinthe on Thursday, October 4th and in Sherbrooke on Friday, October 5th.
According to the tournament’s Twitter account (@LaTDJ) Carey Price is scheduled to be in goal for the St-Hyacinthe game, which has already sold out of tickets.