The Vegas Golden Knights have more Quebec-born players than the Montreal Canadiens
An against-the-odds comeback against and old rival, a sweeping victory in round two: the Montreal Canadiens have brought hope and excitement to a province in great need of a pick-me-up.
In some ways, the team’s victories have come to represent a newfound gusto in Quebec as it slowly re-emerges, hopefully for the last time, from pandemic-era restrictions.
In recent weeks, anti-Toronto chants have filled the air, brooms were brought to sweep the stadium-streets after Game 4 against the Jets, and Habs fans rejoined loved ones on terrasses to root for their beloved bleu-blanc-rouge.
What could be more Quebecois?
How about the roster?
On Monday, at 9 p.m. the Montreal Canadiens will start the semifinals against the Las Vegas Golden Knights: a desert-state team with more Quebec-born players that the province’s own roster.
The Habs are running three Quebecers this season, all in centre position: Alex Belzile (Riviere-du-loup), Phillip Danault (Victoriaville), and Laurent Dauphin (Repentigny).
On the Knights side: Centres Jonathan Marchessault (Cap-Rouge) and Nicolas Roy (Amos), Left-Winger William Carrier (LaSalle), and Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (Sorel).
“I sincerely hope for a loss for the Canadiens,” wrote Luc Ferrandez, former Plateau-Mont-Royal borough mayor, on social media Friday.
“I hope it hurts and that we tell ourselves forever that we could have won with more Quebec players.”
SUPPORT ACROSS CANADA
As the only Canadian team remaining in the playoffs, other major cities have put aside (some) of their differences to rally around the Canadiens.
On Thursday, the Habs flag was hoisted above Toronto city hall, as Mayor John Tory made good on a bet to Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante.
At the provincial level, Premier Doug Ford wore a Canadiens jersey on the short end of a bet to Premier Francois Legault to give a word of support to the rival team:
“Bring the Stanley Cup home to Canada!”
Even with a minority of Quebec-born players, the Habs have a lead on running Canadians -- but it's a small one. On the Habs side, 19 players were born north of the border, while Vegas has only 17.
But who’s counting?
NHL playoff semifinals begin Monday, June 14, at 9 p.m. at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
Follow along with CTV’s liveblog for real-time updates through the game.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.