by Erica, Staff Writer and Fundraising Specialist, All Habs Hockey Magazine
MONTREAL, QC. — This episode of 24CH was filmed during the first real snowfall of the year. A few cold, blustery days that seemingly came out of nowhere – and a reminder that Montreal’s hockey team can run from hot to cold just as quickly as its weather. Here’s what we learned this week:
A good support system is everything. This is evidenced not only by the support staff, like the hard-working equipment managers and athletic therapists featured in previous episodes, but by former players and team management as well. This episode followed former player Steve Bégin as he returned to the Bell Centre to shoot some commercials for Club 1909. He seemed happy to be back in a building where he played some of his best games, and said he’s always game to continue supporting the Canadiens in any way he can.
The team’s Movember campaign is supported by its owner, Geoff Molson, who gave a status update on his mustache, as well as complimenting the mo growth of a few Habs players. (Brendan Gallagher, unfortunately, was not one of those players. “Growing a mustache might not be for him,” Molson said.) At the time this article was written, the Canadiens’ Movember team raised over $45,000.
The team is driven by its passion. Almost every episode of 24CH includes a sequence where Michel Therrien yells at a game official. This time around, he very nearly turned into the Hulk, unspeakably angry about a hit on Drayson Bowman that went completely ignored. Do not cross Michel Therrien lest he unleash his rage upon you.
Anger isn’t the only fuel this team has, as proven by their win over the Red Wings. P.K. Subban’s passion is one of the reasons why he has such boundless energy. He played over 26 minutes against Detroit, and his hard work was rewarded with the Shiny Boxing Robe of Success for the first time this season. Needless to say, Subban was ecstatic. Just further proof that these players care – it’s not fuelled by hard work, by practicing faceoffs in the locker room between periods, by a desire to earn their paychecks. It’s fuelled by a genuine desire to do well. Speaking of players with passion…
Brendan Gallagher is here to stay. And I’m not just talking about his brand-new contract extension. I know everyone says that you don’t make it to the NHL based on “heart” alone, but Gallagher’s tenacity is the reason why he’s made it so far. Through interviews with relatives, past coaches, and team owners, this episode gave fans a better idea of what Gallagher is like. His story unfolds almost like a Sunday afternoon movie: kid grows up skating on the pond in his backyard with big dreams of becoming an NHL player despite his size, and gets drafted by the most historic franchise in the league. He learned to use his size to his advantage, and the Habs are the better for it. He loves playing in Montreal – as evidenced by the enormous framed photo of Montreal’s skyline at his Alberta home – and it looks like his heart and his work ethic will only make the Habs better for the next six seasons.
Best bits. Seeing players focus and work on improving their game between periods; camaraderie between Subban and Dale Weise; Max Pacioretty calling his dad a “good luck charm” after he scored two goals on the St. Louis Blues.
