Diehard Habs’ Fan

Most of you know that I’ve been a huge Habs’ fan my entire life and even though my interest for the NHL has dwindled to the point of taking a step back from the game, I will always have the CH tattooed on my heart… and on my right shoulder. So here’s a story showcasing the passion there is around the the most storied franchise in NHL history.

It’s the Stanley Cup Finals at the Bell Centre in Montreal, and a man makes his way to his seat behind the players’ bench. He sits down, noticing that the seat next to him is empty. He waits before saying something.

No one shows up for the first period. He figures that the person must be late. But when it remains empty at the start of the second period, he leans over and asks his neighbour if someone will be sitting there.

“No“, says the neighbour. “The seat is empty.”

“This is incredible“, said the man. “Who in their right mind would have a seat like this for the Finals and not use it?“

The neighbour says, “Well actually the seat belongs to me. I’m a season’s tickets holder. I was supposed to come with my wife, but she passed away. This is the first Habs’ game we haven’t been to together since we got married, both at the Forum and here.“

“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that. That’s terrible… But couldn’t you find someone else, a friend, relative or even a neighbour to take her seat?“

The man shakes his head. “No“, he says. “They’re all at the funeral.“

Moral of the story: Hockey is popular everywhere in Canada but in Montreal, it’s is a religion. Nothing comes ahead of the Canadiens.