by Erica, Staff Writer and Fundraising Specialist, All Habs Hockey Magazine

MONTREAL, QC. — This week on 24CH, my mother learned that some women have children who play for the Montreal Canadiens, and others have to settle for children who write about them. Here’s what the rest of us learned:

The team has a lot of baggage. Literally. Approximately 5000 pounds of equipment follow the team on road trips – from practice gear to spare skates, blades, and sharpeners. Team employees organize, pack, and unpack everything, ensuring that nothing is left behind and that schedules are met. Often the visitor’s locker room will be packed up before the game even ends, provided the outcome is clear enough to do so. Once everything has flown back to Montreal, everything is returned to its respective location: practice gear to the practice facility in Brossard, game gear to the Bell Centre. Basically, the Canadiens’ skates are better scheduled than I am.

It’s a family affair. This episode followed the team on its mothers’ trip – where all players were invited to bring their mother (or a female family member) on the road trip to Boston and New York. The trip lasted only two and a half days, but the Canadiens’ mothers got a glimpse into their sons’ work schedules, with a little time set aside for bonding. Like last year’s fathers’ trip, the team took some time at dinner to introduce and talk about their mothers. Many of them thanked their mothers for their support and dedication. Alex Galchenyuk recounted how he scored ten goals in his first-ever hockey game – five in the opposing team’s net, and five in his own. His mother sat behind the opposing team’s net during his next game, so that he would remember which direction to take the puck in. Habs fans everywhere are very grateful that she did that.

The mothers spoke about how grateful they were to the team for organizing this trip. Anette Pacioretty was happy to have an opportunity to spend time with her son, which can be difficult to do given his schedule. One of the highlights of the episode was watching the mothers cheer for their sons in Boston – celebrating after goals, reacting to fights, and chanting olé olé when the game looked like a runaway victory. In New York, Darlene Tokarski admitted that she’s usually too nervous to watch her son play, but is learning to calm her nerves after talking to Lynda Price. Her nerves showed, but she spent at least some time with Nancy Bowman and the other moms, all in good spirits despite the Canadien’s loss to the Rangers.

I have faith in this team. The mothers’ trip included a group photo of players with their mothers and family members, snapped by retired team photographer Bob Fisher. In an interview, Fisher recounts how he went beyond the traditional team photo and use his instincts to take some iconic in-game snapshots and Canadiens magazine cover shots. His talent and dedication made him great at his job – and I see that in the small moments captured of current team members. I see Bryan Allen being welcomed by his new teammates and know that the team cooperates to achieve their goals. (Or, rather, to score them.) I see that team spirit in P.K. Subban when he checks on Max Pacioretty after a high-stick sent him to the locker room. I see leadership when Pacioretty discusses plays with Michel Therrien, or Tomas Plekanec strategizes with linemates. I see what is hopefully a bright future when Brendan Gallagher meets with Marc Bergevin to sign a six-year contract extension. Gallagher is humbled but at least a little bit excited, and Bergevin is proud to make this move when he says to Gallagher, “You deserve it.” The Canadiens might be inconsistent right now, but there are pieces falling into place, and someday they’ll reach their potential.

Best bits. P.K. Subban taking his mother, Maria, on a visit of the locker room, and just barely(!) stopping her from accidentally stepping on the CH logo on the carpet; Brandon Prust saying “My mom is stronger than me”; Carey Price chirping former Habs captain Brian Gionta during a shootout against Buffalo.