Before you read the following, I have a confession to make: we went to see the ice hockey match in December. Since then, there has been other things to write about so it got pushed to the back of the queue. It's such a significant aspect of living in Montreal - you can't help hearing about the hockey, even if you are not the slightest bit interested - I thought I should dig it out and post it...
Watching an ice hockey match was one of the things on our 'Must Do Whilst Living in Montreal' list. 2012-13 was not a good year to get tickets, due to the season being shortened due to a lockout, therefore the original start date on the beginning of October was delayed until mid January. Don't quote me, but I think the lockout was due to a dispute over the NHL (National Hockey League) bargaining agreement - the basic agreement between the NHL and the NHLPA (National Hockey Leagues players association).
We couldn't just watch any game though; it had to feature the local team: the Montreal Canadiens. Most known under their popular nickname; "les Habitants" or, The Habs - they are the longest continuously operating professional ice hockey team.
There are a number of theories surrounding the team's nicknames:
One is that Les Habitants is an informal name given to the original settlers of New France in the 17th century. The team was originally marketed as a French-Candian hockey team, and in the beginning only had French-Canadian players, so therefore the strong French link could be true.
One is that Les Habitants is an informal name given to the original settlers of New France in the 17th century. The team was originally marketed as a French-Candian hockey team, and in the beginning only had French-Canadian players, so therefore the strong French link could be true.
The other idea is that in 1924, the 'H' in the team's logo was mistakenly assumed by the owner of the New York Rangers to stand for the word 'Habitant', as in those days the word was used to denote the farmers or people living in the countryside of Quebec, and the guy who made the mistake believed all the teams' players were from the farms. (The H in the logo actually stands for Hockey.)
No one knows for sure the origins, so it's a case of picking which theory you like the sound of best...
No one knows for sure the origins, so it's a case of picking which theory you like the sound of best...
There are reports Montreal played host to the first ever documented ice hockey game in 1875 at the Victoria Skating Rink, and the city is considered to be the birthplace of modern day ice hockey. In fact, the standard international ice rink is apparently based on the dimensions of the Victoria Skating Rink.
American flag for Phoenix...
It is pretty hard to get tickets to a game as they sell out very swiftly indeed, but fortunately for us T's work had set a block of seats aside for employees so, even though they sold quickly, we at least had a chance; and we managed to grab a couple of the cheaper tickets. We were worried this price might have meant we wouldn't see a thing, but the way the seating was laid out in the Bell Centre (the home of The Habs), despite being very high up; we could still see what was going on.
...Canadian flag for The Candians!
The game we watched was Phoenix v Montreal.
I won't pretend I have any real clue as to the rules of ice hockey. I enjoyed the game, and would like to go and see another one whilst we are out here, but I can safely say I am not brimming with knowledge on the subject, or even the ins and outs of the game.
To me, it was like rugby in the terms that the players got hit and rammed, and didn't then act like babies and role around on the floor trying to get the refs attention.
And actually, I have just read that most hockey players in the first throes of the game were in fact, formerly rugby players...
And actually, I have just read that most hockey players in the first throes of the game were in fact, formerly rugby players...
The main highlight for us was in one of the - many - breaks when some young kids came out onto the ice. They must have been about six years old, and dressed in their ice hockey kit with all the padding they looked as wide as they were tall. As they chased the puck around the rink too the roars of the crowd, one would fall over, sending the rest to fall over like a pack of dominoes. They would get up and chase after it again, only to fall over just as they reached the puck.
The adult players - just a little taller...!
After a none descriptive first session, the second and third became more exciting, and the end result was definitely worthy of a cheer: The Habs won 3-1!
Go habs, go!
Go habs, go!
