Fan Focus | My First Habs Game | Montreal Canadiens, Habs, Bell Centre, Colorado Avalanche, Ben Chiarot, Nick Suzuki, Saku Koivu
ROCKET SPORTS MEDIA — Until a few weeks ago, I had only experienced game day emotions in-front of a TV. For years, I have been planning my in-season evenings around the Canadiens schedule.
I went out of my way to ensure the beer fridge was stocked, supper was ready, the dishes were done and the house was somewhat in order before game time, all to ensure I wouldn’t miss a second of the action. It didn’t matter to me if the team was a first place juggernaut or an underachiever. My routine did not change, because it was driven by passion.
After witnessing the peak of my Habs fandom during an unlikely run to the Stanley Cup Final last summer, I decided it was time for me to finally go to a live game. While the playoff campaign ended in heartbreak, Habs fans couldn’t have predicted what would come next. There was a summer of turmoil, controversy in the front office, and a slew of long term injuries to key contributors.
Getting organized
As we know, these factors led to a historically bad start to the 2021-’22 season. Nevertheless, I told myself I was going to follow through with my plan to go to Montreal. It was finally time for me to witness where magic was created particularly the emotions of last season’s deep playoff run.
Tickets were a breeze! The @AllHabs Twitter account posts a weekly update on deals for upcoming Canadiens’ home games from their ticket partner TicketIQ. I kept an eye on prices and pounced when I saw a deal in late November.
I purchased two tickets in the upper deck through the @TicketIQ app and received them within minutes of finalizing the transaction, complete with detailed information on the arena protocols. The service was second to none and I would recommend them to anyone.
Game Day
Game day finally arrived: December 2nd, 2021. The struggling Montreal Canadiens hosted a supremely skilled, yet underachieving Colorado Avalanche squad at the Bell Centre.
As much as I appreciate a good mid-afternoon siesta, there was no chance I was getting a pre-game nap in on this day. Instead, I did a bit of pre-game prep and checked out the All Habs Game Preview and the latest hockey rumors on Twitter.
@AllHabs confirmed that Brendan Gallagher and Sami Niku entered COVID-19 protocol and were not available for the game. This was disappointing and uneasy news to hear.
I have been a fan of “Gally” going back to his American Hockey League days with the Hamilton Bulldogs. Niku is a player I appreciated watching with Jets organization; his puck moving abilities, paired with a smart first pass impressed me. I was hoping to see what Niku could do with more opportunities on a depleted Habs squad.
Then it was time to fuel up. For dinner, we choose a Montreal classic: Dunn’s Famous, which was a short walk from our hotel. Call it ‘carbo-loading,’ the smoked meat sandwich really hit the spot. I appreciated the perfect blend of spices, hours of slow roasting, careful carving, stacking and serving that led to a perfect meal before a big game.
Even though I am typically a craft beer drinker, we had to pair this dinner with a classic Molson Export. Memories of “Ex” commercials during games over the years came flooding back as I sipped on an average beer with an exceptional meal.
Warm-Ups
Once we finally got to our seats after a maze of security screenings, we realized our tickets were only 10 rows from the top. But it is tough to find a bad seat in the Bell Centre. We could see the entire ice surface, hear every hit and make out every single players number.
As soon as I sat down, a nervous chill came over me. The players stepped on the ice to a sped up top 40 track clearly meant to energize. The crowd seemed disinterested, as most were still making their way to the seats.
I was mesmerized by what seemed like blazing speed as the first couple of laps as a group took place. The players came across as relaxed and optimistic while they settled into the typical circle pass drill, being very cautious not to shot too high on their goaltenders.
As I was taking note of the home jerseys, the flowing locks of number 55 was hard to miss, bringing a smile to my face. Seeing Michael Pezzetta was a calming sight. I watched “Pez” play live for three seasons in Sudbury and knew exactly what he would bring: grit, determination and work ethic.
With the warm-up completed, players slowly filtered off the ice. I got ready for game time as well, double-checking the lineup and settling into my seat. As the countdown to game time continued on the big board, I found myself mesmerized by the Canadiens Stanley Cup banners. They are so much bigger, brighter and cleaner looking than on TV.
I ensured all 24 banners were accounted for as the clock hit single digits. It was game time.
The Game
It’s strange and a little embarrassing to admit this, but watching players walk out to Coldplay’s “Fix You” almost brought tears to my eyes. The memories of last year’s run to the Stanley Cup Final came flooding back.
I had flash thoughts of Jesperi Kotkaniemi scoring the overtime goal in round one to push the Maple Leafs to a seventh game; along with Artturi Lehkonen‘s game winner in overtime to eliminate the Golden Knights and Carey Price raising his arms over his head.
In all honesty, I wish I could be more positive, but the game was a letdown. The Habs were missing Mike Hoffman suffering from a lower-body injury and the two players on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list. In addition Josh Anderson left the game in the second period with an upper body injury.
The Canadiens did not take advantage of an Avalanche squad that had injury issues of its own and were starting the in-experienced Jonas Johansson in goal, who had been shelled the night before in Toronto.
The Avalanche feature two superstars who were a pleasure to watch: Cale Makar, one of the brightest and most skilled blueliners in the game and Nathan McKinnon who had returned to the lineup after a stint on injured reserve. The highlight of the game was a beautiful solo rush by Av’s winger Valeri Nichushkin, scoring a shorthanded goal early in the second period.
Canadiens defenceman Ben Chiarot scored Montreal’s lone goal, his fifth of the season, as the Avalanche cruised to a 4-1 victory. Goaltender Jake Allen played well in a losing effort making 30 saves.
Fan Emotions
To my eye, the Habs struggled to produce offence and failed to execute many clean zone entries. A couple of lazy and uninspired shifts by the home team was the final straw for fans. By the third period, many fans in our section resorted to booing and mocking the “Ole, Ole” chant.
Canadiens supporters were clearly expressing their displeasure with the team’s performance and the lack of action from management. That said, we were pleased to see that fans remained respectful to staff, players and other patrons. We had a safe experience in the upper deck.
I was touched that an older gentleman sitting in front of me shared a favorite memory. He got choked up explaining how special it was to witness captain Saku Koivu return after a successful battle with cancer in 2002. The man said that Koivu was not only greeted by a standing ovation, but a minute long applause in recognition of his heroics.
As it turned out, that memory is also very cherished in my mind. I didn’t witness at the Molson Centre but on my parent’s 20-inch TV. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how special it would have been to be in the arena that night.
Post-Game
After the final whistle, we stayed behind and took in the breathtaking sights of an empty building. The banners flew silent, but were a sight to behold. The ice, even heavily marked up, still lit up like the opening day torch to mark the beginning of another Habs season. I thought to myself ‘What a magical building this rink can be!’
On the way out, we got the chance to see the Molson Cup on display. The attendant was kind enough to give us a few minutes. Nick Suzuki was the most recent recipient and he had received the honor at the beginning of this game.
Once out of the building, we walked through the memorial gardens which includes statues of retired players and a walkway of fan notes and inspiration messages. We then extended our evening at Ziggy’s pub, a local dive bar within a few minutes of the Bell Centre.
The place was ran by a very efficient bartender who successfully served the entire bar while holding a range of conversations with patrons about the recent Habs play, local politics and even life experience. The walls were lined with Habs memorabilia and signed celebrity photos.
The Aftermath
Even though the contest lacked the kind of excitement you typically get from a hockey game, nothing else was missing in this fan’s eyes when reminiscing about my first game at the Bell Centre. The sights and sounds were even more breathtaking than I could have imagined. The emotion lived up to expectations but some portions tugged harder at the heart strings.
I came away with a full appreciation of everything that comes with being a loyal Habs supporter. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience to go to my first live game at the Bell Center watching the team that I have cheered for from childhood.
By Mike Raschle, Staff Writer
All Habs Hockey Magazine
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