by Justin Orlewicz (Sports Editor)
Email: cascade.sports at ufv dot ca
After my pilgrimage, I returned home for three days to relax and tie up some loose ends in Vancouver before I was immediately sent on an assignment to Montreal for a media conference.
I decided since I was in the city of 24 Stanley Cups that it would be stupid for me to not catch a game at la Centre Bell, Montreal’s cathedral of hockey.
I was slated to arrive the night of the Penguins and Canadians rematch, which would have been nice to see. However, due to the one inch of snow that the Lower Mainland had sustained the night of my morning flight, I woke up early only to find out that the flight had been cancelled.
This didn’t stop me from seeing a game at the biggest stadium in the NHL; it just meant that I had to settle for a Saturday night match-up with the New York Rangers. But, I wasn’t too disappointed to see my second Rangers road game of this season, especially a Saturday night contest at the Bell Center, but I was disappointed that I didn’t get a chance to see Marc-Andre Fleury’s mockery of Carey Price’s B-Boy stance in person.
I guess everything happens for a reason because during the conference I met an online editor and an avid Habs fan by the name of Nick Duhamel who decided to accompany me to this famed hockey Cathedral. I must say that out of the five NHL buildings I have been to so far, this is the best one by far.
First off, the fans are crazy and passionate about the game. Secondly, they let their team know when they are playing well and when they are not; I heard some of the funniest things that I have ever heard at a hockey game at the Bell Center. That’s not to mention all the history that hangs from the rafters, and all the iconic pictures and memorabilia of former Habs posted around the terrace and the front of the building.
Let me make this clear, I am not a Montreal Canadians fan, but I have a ton of respect for the history and culture of the franchise (I actually wore a Joe Sakic Quebec Nordiques Jersey to this game). They are definitely the most dynamic fans in hockey, and their history speaks for itself.
I also had a chance to see P.K. Subban in action again this time in the big leagues. For those of you who remember my interview with Subban when he was still with the Hamilton Bulldogs, Subban is playing well and his jersey and t-shirt is also one of the best selling Canadien’s jerseys out there. Many times throughout the game I heard the 20,000 plus crowd chanting his name. Good to see Subban doing his thing in the show.
I told him last year it was just a matter of time before he was there.
One last thing to end this week’s Locker Room: hats off to Teemu Selanne for the 1300th point of his career. He has come a long way from shooting his gloves in Winnipeg.
