This season, the NHL is sending their best to participate in the Winter Olympics. Dating back to the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, this marks the 5th consecutive Olympics NHL players take part in the Olympics (1998/Nagano; 2002/Salt Lake City; 2006/Milan; 2010/Vancouver; 2014/Sochi).
Potentially 10 Canadiens players can be taking part in the Winter Games.
Twelve teams qualified for the ice hockey competition at the Olympics. Every country are holding an Orientation camps prior to the start of their 2013/14 seasons.
Team Canada will be holding Camp between August 25- August 28. Two members of the Montreal Canadiens have been asked to attend; G - Carey Price and 2013 Norris Trophy Winner defenseman P.K. Subban.
Other members of the Canadiens have also been invited by their respective countries to take part in their orientation camps include defensemen Alexei Emelin and Andrei Markov by the Russian Federation.
Team USA have invited forwards Mac Pacioretty and surprisingly sophomore Alex Galchenyuk.
Some other members of the Canadiens will be a lock to represent their country at the Olympics. They include defenseman Raphael Diaz (Switzerland), goalie Peter Budaj (Slovakia) and forwards Tomas Plekenec (Czech Replublic) and Lars Eller (Denmark). Eller is by far the best player on his team.
The Winter Olympics take place between February 7, 2014 to February 23, 2014. Team Canada is the defending Gold Medal Champions.
-- Mario Perrazzino
For tickets to the Canadiens 2013-14 schedule, click here.
For Montreal Canadiens merchandise, click here.
Saturday 3 August 2013
Sunday 5 May 2013
Is the Montreal Bell Centre cursed?
The Bell Centre was opened with much fanfare back on March 16, 1996. But in 17 years, the Canadiens have yet to win a Stanley Cup in their new home. The Canadiens last Stanley Cup came 20 years ago at the Montreal Forum back in 1993.
Lack of Championship notoriety at the Bell Centre notwithstanding, the home of the Montreal Canadiens has witnessed more than its fair share of horrific on ice injuries. Some even career threatening.
With the latest injury sustained by the Canadiens Lars Eller being hit to the head by Ottawa Senators Eric Grba this past week, I have complied a list of major injuries over the years that occurred at the Bell Centre.
January 20, 2000: Trent McLeary troat injury
Blake Geoffrion has yet to return to skating and might never play professional hockey again.
May 2nd 2012: Lars Eller; huge hit by Eric Gryba (Ottawa
Senators)
There were two others which I couldn;t find online but they were Donald Audette's hand injury ending his career. And Robert Lang's injury sustained during the Canadiens Centenniel season.
Special thanks to And-o from the GOHABS.com Message Board for pointing out three omissions from my original post.
Mario Perrazzino
mario@gohabs.com
http://GOHABS.com
Lack of Championship notoriety at the Bell Centre notwithstanding, the home of the Montreal Canadiens has witnessed more than its fair share of horrific on ice injuries. Some even career threatening.
With the latest injury sustained by the Canadiens Lars Eller being hit to the head by Ottawa Senators Eric Grba this past week, I have complied a list of major injuries over the years that occurred at the Bell Centre.
January 20, 2000: Trent McLeary troat injury
April 25, 2002:
Richard Zednick hit by Kyle McLaren (Boston Bruins)
April 26, 2006: Saku Koivi hit in the eye by Justin Williams (Carolina
Hurricanes)
March 8 2011: Max
Pacioretty destroyed by Zedeno Chara (Boston Bruins)
November 9, 2012: Blake Geoffrion suffers skull injury in AHL game
at the Bell Centre by Jean-Philippe Cote.
Blake Geoffrion has yet to return to skating and might never play professional hockey again.
There were two others which I couldn;t find online but they were Donald Audette's hand injury ending his career. And Robert Lang's injury sustained during the Canadiens Centenniel season.
Special thanks to And-o from the GOHABS.com Message Board for pointing out three omissions from my original post.
Mario Perrazzino
mario@gohabs.com
http://GOHABS.com
TiqIQ's
job is to find you the best deals on tickets, and for Montreal Canadiens
tickets, you may want to check out FanXChange.
Saturday 23 March 2013
What's in a number, 2012-13 edition
As a hockey fan for over 30 years, I am always intrigued numbers
players wear.
This season, although it’s been a shortened 48 game schedule
coming out of the lockout, has seen its fair share of number changes for the
2012-13 edition of the Montreal Canadiens.
#8 Brandon Prust
Let’s begin with the off-season acquisitions rookie GM Marc Bergevin made.
Brandon Prust, chose #8. I number he’s all too familiar with playing with
that number in New York. In recent years
Mike Komisarek wore it for 7 seasons (2002-2009).
#20 Colby Armstrong
Colby Armstrong was signed as UFA, having played with Toronto. Armstrong opted to go with the number20, the
number he first used when he broke into the NHL back in 2007 with Pittsburgh.
Armstrong also wore #20 in his second season with Atlanta Thrashers. James
Wisniewski was the last Hab to wear #20.
#55 Francis Bouillon
In his second stint with the Canadiens,
Bouillon wanted to wear the same number he’s worn all his NHL career with both
Montreal and Nashville; #51. However, #51 is worn by
David Desharnais.
So Bouillon went with #55. #55
was last worn briefly by Brent Sopel. Over the years, five players have worn
#55. Longest serving was Igor Ulanov for parts of three seasons (1997-2000).
#17 Rene Bourque
Last season when Bourque was traded to Montreal, he wore
#27. With Chris Campoli
becoming a UFA,
#17 became available, a number Bourque is familiar with when he was with the Calgary
Flames prior to his trade to Montreal. The most famous Canadien ever to wear #17? Jean Beliveau
who wore it briefly when he was called up to the big club the first time back
in 1951. Beliveau
was then given #4 when he made the club for good in 1953.
#27 Alex Galchenyuk
Canadiens Rookies are rarely given
a say on what number they wear. And Alex
Galchenyuk is no exception. Having played with #94 in Sarnia in Junior,
the Canadiens gave Galchenyuk
#27. Before Rene Bourque, Alex Kovalev, the most famous Russian ever to play with the Canadiens wore it from 2003-2009.
#73 à#11 Brendan Gallagher
Brendan Gallagher broke into the NHL with #73. But barely 30 games into the 2012-13 season, Gallagher switched to #11 as Michael Ryder was
re-acquired in trade with Dallas. Ryder wore
#73 previously and before Gallagher wore the number this season, Ryder was in
club history the only player ever to wear #73.
Gallagher was all too happy switching to #11, a number he wore in Junior
with the Vancouver Giants. And for Habs fans, we would all like to forget who last wore #11;
Scott Gomez wore it the last two seasons. Notable players to wear #11 were Ryan
Walter (1982-91), Kirk Muller (1991-95), and Saku Koivu (1995-2009).
#73 Michael Ryder
Michael Ryder was re-acquired by the Canadiens
this season in a trade with the Dallas Stars.
Ryder has played with the Canadiens, Bruins
and Stars and has always worn #73. So it was all too welcoming for Ryder when
Gallagher offered the number to Ryder when he re-joined the Habs.
#42 Jarred Tinordi
Jarred Tinordi’s dad Mark Tinordi played 12 seasons in the NHL. And for 11 of those seasons he wore #24. So the Canadiens
wanting Jarred Tinrodi to make his own mark with the
club inversed the numbers to #42. Domenic Moore was the last player to wear #42
prior to Tinordi.
#37 Gabriel Dumont
Gabriel Dumont was first called up during the 2011-12
season. And #37 is the only number he
has worn with the Canadiens. #37 was first worn my Steve Penny back in
1983. And the first 6 players in club history to
wear #37 were all goaltenders. Prior to
Dumont, Niklas Sundstrum
wore it for parts of four seasons (2002-06).
#64 Greg Pateryn
Greg Pateryn was recently called up
to the Canadiens making his NHL debut. Not too many players have worn #64 in the Canadiens storied history.
He joins Armand Mondou (1934-35) and
Jean-Philippe Côté (2005-06).
-- Mario Perrazzino
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#24 Jeff Halpern
Jeff Halpern was picked up off waivers in March and returns for his second tour of duty with the Havs. In Halpern's 13 year career in the NHL, Halpern always wore #15. But #15 is currently reserved for Petteri Nokelainen who is in Hamilton after missing a year of action due to a back injury. Halpern becomes the 42nd different player in Canadiens history to wear #24. Among the notables to don the jersey were Chris Chelios (1983-90) and Lyle Odelein (1990-96). #24 was last worn by Mathieu Schneider. Trivia enthusiast will appreciate that when Serge Savard was first called up by the Canadiens back in 1966, and similarly by Pierre Mondou back 1976, they were given #24.
#40 Nathan Beaulieu
Nathan Beaulieu becomes the 5th rookie to earn a start with the Canadiens during the abbreviated 2012-13 season. Beaulieu becomes only the 8th different player to wear the number 40, and the first since Maxime Lapierre wore it for six seasons (2005-11). The first player to wear #40 in Habs history was Domenic Campedelli back in the 1985-86 season.
-- Mario Perrazzino
TiqIQ's job is finding you the best deals on the market, and for Montreal Canadiens tickets you may want to check out FanXchange.
Friday 28 December 2012
The Montreal Canadiens Top 10 positive signs from 2012
The Montreal Canadiens 2011-12 season proved to be one of
the most frustrating and embarrassing seasons ever in Canadiens storied franchise’s
history. Finishing last in the Eastern
conference, and 3rd last overall, and with the NHL lockout still in
effect with no signs of ending anytime soon, seeing 2012 end couldn’t come too
soon. So I wanted to compile a top 10
list of positive signs from 2012, and what Habs fans can look forward to in 2013
(pending lockout ends one day soon).
The Montreal Canadiens The top 10 positive signs for 2012 (in
no particular order):
Lars Eller four goal outburst: On Jan 4th, 2012, Lars Eller
performed the Lars Eller show scoring four goals and picking up one assist as
the Habs trounced the Winnipeg Jets 7-2 at the Bell Centre. Not bad for Eller considering earlier in the
season against the Jets, Eller was benched!
Eller’s four goal game was the first by a Canadiens since Jan Bulis
performed the feat back in 2006.
Habs beat Red Wings
7-2 on Jan 25: Who would have
thought with the Canadiens struggling so badly in 2011-12, and with Stanley Cup
contenders Detroit Red Wings coming to town that the Canadiens would blow them
out like they did? Well that’s exactly
what happened back on Jan. 12, 2012 when the Canadiens exploded to a 6-0 lead
and won 7-2. One of the very few on-ice highs
for the Canadiens in 2012.
Andrei Markov returns
to action: On March 12, 2012, Andrei Markov returned to action after almost
16 months off due to injuries. Prior to his comeback game in March, Markov, had
played in only seven games in the last two seasons suffering from two major
knee surgeries and another arthroscopic procedure. Markov finished the 2012 season talking a
regular shift. These last few months during
the lockout, Markov has taken a regular spot with Vityaz Chekhov in the KHL showing
signs that he has indeed fully recovered.
David Desharnais
surprising season: Last season was
David Desharnais’ breakout season in the NHL.
At 5’7, 177lbs not many pegged Desharnais as a No. 1 Centre on any team.
But that’s where Desharnais found himself centring Max Pacioretty and Erik
Cole for most of the season and tallying 16 goals and 44 assists. A far cry from Desharnais’ previous NHL highs
the season prior, his rookie season, when in 43 games, Desharnais recorded 22
points.
Max Pacioretty’s
comeback season and breakout year.
On March 9, 2011 Max Pacioretty’s hockey reality came to a crashing halt
when he was viciously hit by Zdeno Chara.
Pacioretty’s season came to an instant end, suffering a season ending severe
concussion and breaking his neck, coming just a few millimetres from being paralyzed. But Pacioretty was determined to make a full
recovery. Pacioretty finished the
2011-12 season with career highs in goals (33) and assists (32), and leading
the Canadiens in team scoring with 65 points.
Pacioretty capped off the season winning the Bill Masterton award, awarded
to the player that best exemplifies qualities of perseverance, team spirit and
dedication to the sport of hockey.
Firing of Pierre
Gauthier: With the Canadiens worst
record since the 1940’s. The writing was on the wall for Pierre Gauthier to be
fired. Under Gauthier’s short tenure as
GM, he fired assistant head coach Perry Pearn hours before a hockey game. Soon after, team head coach, Jacques Martin was fired too. And on Jan 12, 2012, Pierre Gauthier also
managed to trade Mike Cammalleri during a hockey game forcing Cammalleri to
leave part way into a game verses the
Boston Bruins giving a new meaning to dysfunctional organization. Prior to end of the 2012 season, on March 29,
2012 Canadiens CEO Geoff Molson announced that Pierre Gauthier was relieved of
his duties as the team’s general manager,.
Hiring of Marc Bergevin: After an exhaustive four-week search for the
next General Manager of the Montreal Canadiens, the list wound down to two
candidates; Pierre McGuire and Marc Bergevin. On May 2nd, 2012, Team President
Geoff Molson announced that Marc Bergevin would become the club’s 17th
General Manager in club history. Bergevin
wasted no time putting his team in place.
Gone were the days of the Canadiens GM performing all the player
development and player personnel moves.
Scott Melanby was hired as Director of Player Personnel. Martin Lapointe was hired as Director of
Player Development. Bergevin also added another
assistant GM in Rick Dudley. And the
scouting department under Trevor Timmins was expanded. What remains to be seen is how Bergevin’s
hiring of new head coach Michel Therrien will play itself out.
Drafting of Alex
Galchenyuk: The Montreal Canadiens had the
third pick overall in the 2012 Entry Draft and they selected centre Alex Galchenyuk. This season, Galchenyuk is dominating his
last season junior hockey with the Sarnia Sting of the OHL, and Galchenyuk is also competing in the 2012 World Junior
Championships playing for Team USA. It
can be argued that the Galchenyuk pick represents the best non-goalie draft
pick the Canadiens have selected since Saku Koivu back in 1993.
Tomas Plekanec
thriving in Europe: On Sept 15, 2012
when the NHL announced that there would be a lockout as both the NHL and NHLPA
failed to reach a negotiated settlement for
a new CBA, Plekanec was one of the first players to decide to play in Europe during the
lockout. Playing in his native Czech republic
for team Kladno, in 32 games Plekanec is
second in scoring with 46 points. And
should the lockout end soon, Plekanec would be in mid-season form. Although Plekanec just suffered a slight
setback injuring his ribs and should miss one week.
Canadiens prospects
in the AHL: With the lockout now
over 100 days strong, the Canadiens have focused on stock piling their AHL farm
club with prospects. Never have the
Canadiens been loaded with this much depth and prospects in their farm like
they have this season. Although Aaron
Palushaj , Blake Geoffrion, and Louis
Leblanc have already played in the NHL, they are getting additional work in the
AHL due to the lockout. And providing tutelage
to new comers Brendan Gallagher, Nathan Beaulieu, , Patrick Holland, Brendon
Nash, Morgan Ellis, Jarred Tinordi. It wouldn’t
be too surprising to see that from these names mentioned, at least three or
four will turn into solid NHL players in years to come.
Mario Perrazzino
mario@gohabs.com
Mario Perrazzino
Friday 22 June 2012
Montreal Canadiens unveil 2012-13 Schedule
The Montreal Canadiens 2012-13 regular season schedule is now out.
And for starters the Canadiens won't be starting the season versus the Toronto Maple Leafs.
And as well they will be starting at home for a change.
Worth mentioning, former team captain Saku Koivu returns to the Bell Centre on Saturday October 27 when the Habs play host to the Ducks.
And Mike Cammalleri pays his respect as the Flames visit the Canadiens on November 13.
| Montreal Canadiens 2012-13 Schedule | |||
| Oct-12 | |||
| Date | Opponent | Time | TV |
| THU, 11 OCT 2012 | OTTAWA | 7:00 PM | RDS/CBC |
| SAT, 13 OCT 2012 | @ TORONTO | 7:00 PM | RDS/CBC |
| TUE, 16 OCT 2012 | BOSTON | 7:30 PM | RDS/TSN |
| THU, 18 OCT 2012 | @ BOSTON | 7:00 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| SAT, 20 OCT 2012 | WASHINGTON | 7:00 PM | RDS/CBC |
| TUE, 23 OCT 2012 | @ MINNESOTA | 8:00 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| THU, 25 OCT 2012 | PHILADELPHIA | 7:30 PM | RDS/TSN |
| SAT, 27 OCT 2012 | ANAHEIM | 7:00 PM | RDS/CBC |
| TUE, 30 OCT 2012 | @ CALGARY | 9:00 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| Nov-12 | |||
| Date | Opponent | Time | TV |
| THU, 1 NOV 2012 | @ EDMONTON | 9:30 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| SAT, 3 NOV 2012 | @ VANCOUVER | 10:00 PM | RDS/CBC |
| TUE, 6 NOV 2012 | PHOENIX | 7:30 PM | RDS |
| THU, 8 NOV 2012 | WINNIPEG | 7:00 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| SAT, 10 NOV 2012 | NY RANGERS | 7:00 PM | RDS/CBC/MSG |
| TUE, 13 NOV 2012 | CALGARY | 7:30 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| THU, 15 NOV 2012 | @ WINNIPEG | 8:00 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| SAT, 17 NOV 2012 | @ COLORADO | 10:00 PM | RDS/CBC |
| MON, 19 NOV 2012 | NASHVILLE | 7:30 PM | RDS |
| TUE, 20 NOV 2012 | @ NJ DEVILS | 7:30 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS/NBCSN |
| SAT, 24 NOV 2012 | VANCOUVER | 7:00 PM | RDS/CBC |
| TUE, 27 NOV 2012 | @ TAMPA BAY | 7:30 PM | RDS/TSN |
| Dec-12 | |||
| Date | Opponent | Time | TV |
| SAT, 1 DEC 2012 | TORONTO | 7:00 PM | RDS/CBC |
| SUN, 2 DEC 2012 | @ COLUMBUS | 6:00 PM | RDS |
| TUE, 4 DEC 2012 | CHICAGO | 7:30 PM | RDS/TSN |
| THU, 6 DEC 2012 | @ BUFFALO | 7:00 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| SAT, 8 DEC 2012 | BUFFALO | 7:00 PM | RDS/CBC |
| MON, 10 DEC 2012 | CAROLINA | 7:30 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| WED, 12 DEC 2012 | @ NY RANGERS | 7:00 PM | RDS |
| THU, 13 DEC 2012 | LA KINGS | 7:30 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| SAT, 15 DEC 2012 | @ BUFFALO | 7:00 PM | RDS/CBC |
| MON, 17 DEC 2012 | BUFFALO | 7:30 PM | RDS/NBCSN |
| WED, 19 DEC 2012 | @ OTTAWA | 7:00 PM | RDS/TSN |
| THU, 20 DEC 2012 | @ WASHINGTON | 7:00 PM | RDS/TSN |
| SAT, 22 DEC 2012 | @ TORONTO | 7:00 PM | RDS/CBC/NHL-US |
| THU, 27 DEC 2012 | @ TAMPA BAY | 7:30 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| FRI, 28 DEC 2012 | @ FLORIDA | 7:30 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| MON, 31 DEC 2012 | @ CAROLINA | 8:00 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| Jan-13 | |||
| Date | Opponent | Time | TV |
| THU, 3 JAN 2013 | NJ DEVILS | 7:30 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| SAT, 5 JAN 2013 | TORONTO | 7:00 PM | RDS/CBC |
| TUE, 8 JAN 2013 | FLORIDA | 7:30 PM | RDS |
| THU, 10 JAN 2013 | @ PHILADELPHIA | 7:00 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| SAT, 12 JAN 2013 | @ DALLAS | 2:00 PM | RDS/CBC |
| SUN, 13 JAN 2013 | @ ST-LOUIS | 7:30 PM | RDS |
| WED, 16 JAN 2013 | PITTSBURGH | 7:00 PM | RDS/TSN |
| FRI, 18 JAN 2013 | @ PITTSBURGH | 7:00 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| SAT, 19 JAN 2013 | BOSTON | 7:00 PM | RDS/CBC/NHL-US |
| TUE, 22 JAN 2013 | TAMPA BAY | 7:30 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| TUE, 29 JAN 2013 | EDMONTON | 7:30 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| WED, 30 JAN 2013 | @ DETROIT | 7:30 PM | RDS/TSN/NBCSN |
| Feb-13 | |||
| Date | Opponent | Time | TV |
| SAT, 2 FEB 2013 | NY ISLANDERS | 1:00 PM | RDS/CBC |
| SUN, 3 FEB 2013 | OTTAWA | 1:00 PM | RDS/CBC |
| WED, 6 FEB 2013 | CAROLINA | 7:00 PM | RDS/TSN |
| FRI, 8 FEB 2013 | @ PITTSBURGH | 7:00 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| SAT, 9 FEB 2013 | TORONTO | 7:300 PM | RDS/CBC |
| TUE, 12 FEB 2013 | @ NY ISLANDERS | 7:00 PM | RDS |
| FRI, 15 FEB 2013 | @ BUFFALO | 7:00 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS/MSG-B |
| SUN, 17 FEB 2013 | @ WINNIPEG | 2:00 PM | RDS/CBC |
| TUE, 19 FEB 2013 | SAN JOSE | 7:30 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| WED, 20 FEB 2013 | @ NY RANGERS | 7:00 PM | RDS |
| SAT, 23 FEB 2013 | PITTSBURGH | 7:00 PM | RDS/CBC/NHL-US |
| MON, 25 FEB 2013 | @ OTTAWA | 7:30 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| THU, 28 FEB 2013 | BOSTON | 7:30 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| Mar-13 | |||
| Date | Opponent | Time | TV |
| SAT, 2 MAR 2013 | NY ISLANDERS | 7:00 PM | RDS/CBC |
| MON, 4 MAR 2013 | @ BOSTON | 7:30 PM | RDS/TSN/NBCSN |
| THU, 7 MAR 2013 | @ WASHINGTON | 7:00 PM | RDS/TSN |
| SAT, 9 MAR 2013 | @ TAMPA BAY | 7:00 PM | RDS/CBC |
| SUN, 10 MAR 2013 | @ FLORIDA | 6:00 PM | RDS |
| WED, 13 MAR 2013 | OTTAWA | 7:00 PM | RDS/TSN |
| FRI, 15 MAR 2013 | @ PHILADELPHIA | 7:00 PM | RDS/TSN |
| SAT, 16 MAR 2013 | @ NY DEVILS | 7:00 PM | RDS/CBC |
| TUE, 19 MAR 2013 | @ OTTAWA | 7:30 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| THU, 21 MAR 2013 | NJ DEVILS | 7:00 PM | RDS/CBC |
| SAT, 23 MAR 2013 | @ NY ISLANDERS | 7:00 PM | RDS/CBC |
| TUE, 26 MAR 2013 | WINNIPEG | 7:30 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| WED, 27 MAR 2013 | @ BOSTON | 7:30 PM | RDS/TSN/NBCSN |
| SAT, 30 MAR 2013 | NY RANGERS | 7:00 PM | RDS/CBC |
| Apr-13 | |||
| Date | Opponent | Time | TV |
| TUE, 2 APR 2013 | PHILADELPHIA | 7:30 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| THU, 4 APR 2013 | WASHINGTON | 7:30 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| SAT, 6 APR 2013 | BUFFALO | 7:00 PM | RDS/CBC |
| TUE, 9 APR 2013 | FLORIDA | 7:30 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS |
| FRI, 12 APR 2013 | @ CAROLINA | 7:00 PM | RDS/TSN-HABS/NHL-US |
| SAT, 13 APR 2013 | @ TORONTO | 7:00 PM | RDS/CBC |
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