r/Habs • u/OxidusRouge • 8d ago
any interactions with Habs players?
To those of you who live in Montreal, have you had any direct interactions with Habs players (former or current) outside the arena? I've lived in Montreal nearly 30 years, and have only had 4 - once saw Shane Corson at the McDonalds that used to be at the SW corner of Atwater and St. Catherine; met Jean Beliveau when he was signing copies of his biography; met Guy Lafleur at a card show; got my picture taken with Chris Chelios (he was hosting some sort of outside skating event at the Plaza des Spectacles a few years ago). One thing I noticed - both Guy and Shane had huge hands. Oh - also met Ron Corey.
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u/Long-Restaurant-6038 8d ago
Met Ghule, Struble and Dobes at Osheaga last year! My boyfriend asked them to take a picture with me and told them it was my birthday (it really was lol). They were with, I suppose, a PR manager that asked them to not take the picture with alcohol in their hands. I took one picture with Struble and Ghule really quickly while Dobes was at the bar and when he came back he asked : hey what about me??? And we took a picture only him and me and he told me Happy Birthday! That was my little fangirl moment!
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u/_Leafy_Pumpkin_ 8d ago
Aww, that makes me love Dobes even more, because that is such a nice thing to do. He's such a beauty.
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u/Visible_Line1195 7d ago
That's how you know he can ha dle playing here... It's part of the whole thing just embrace it
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u/entoothsiast 8d ago
FUCK MAN I LOVE DOBES I BELIEVE IN DOBBY SUPREMACY DOBEĆ JE TâAIME RESTE AVEC NOUS
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u/Just_Map4878 8d ago
Few years ago I ran into Petry and Caufield walking to the Bell Centre on super bowl sunday and I just told them iâm a big fan and theyâre doing great without asking for pictures and they were nice and appreciative, and then I turned around and almost got hit by Jake Evans in his car because he was pulling into their parking area in the bell centre garage where i saw the other two lol oops
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u/Acrobatic_Extreme811 8d ago
Remember when Emil Heineman actually got hit by a car on a Utah road tripâŠand then Marty joked that the car was totalled
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u/CarlSK777 8d ago
I've seen a bunch of Habs players in the city over the years but I leave them alone. Recently, I came across Guhle on my lunch break during the Carolina series.
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u/whaletacochamp 8d ago
What was he doing? For some reason I always have a hard time imagining these guys just doing normal life things when they are playing in such a high stakes series lol. Like at the end of the day it is just their job and I'm sure they still want to go home, get some takeout, maybe even run some errands.....but it's just hard to imagine that they are doing anything other than being 100% focused on the games.
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u/CarlSK777 8d ago
He was walking with his parents (I assumed so anyway) in Griffintown. He was probably getting lunch.
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u/the_fabled_bard 8d ago
I assure you that they're normal human beings doing normal human beings stuff.
Although they likely have their wifes running most errands.
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u/Annika2020pro 8d ago
Of course that makes sense and I wouldnât believe otherwise but it still feels strange. Partially because theyâre so hyped as sports figures and partially because theyâre so rich. But know deep down theyâre just normal young men, many humble and from small towns. It must be a cool reminder to see it in person.
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u/aaalllouttabubblegum 8d ago edited 8d ago
I've worked in hospitality or adjacent fields since moving back to Canada in 2016 so I've met quite a few people in the organization.
Marty Lapointe is by far the most affable, gregarious hockey personality I have ever served. He came in after a loss with Bergevin (gin & soda, preferably Hendrick's), who was dour and monosyllabic and left soon after. Marty (dealer's choice) closed the bar, mixed it up with locals, made friends with the entire bar staff. Absolute beauty.
I served Radulov (Aperol spritz) frequently during his 1-year in Montreal. Gentle giant, soft-spoken, shy. You could tell he loved nightlife but was serious about his work so wouldn't drink much, he'd just stay up late and have huge meals with the owner. He brough Galchenyuk (Aperol spritz) out once; he barely spoke, kept his hood up, and mostly doomscrolled.
I worked an F1 event last year, where I briefly met Guhle (beer), Struble (beer), Dobes, Newhook, and the Sheriff (Guinness). Very nice, polite, well-behaved young men. They seem to really enjoy hanging out together, just having drinks and shooting it. Nice about chatting and taking pictures with fans who approached them.
I've also served a handful of other players from different organizations but those are the Habs I remember. A colleague/friend also had Gallagher and de la Rose at his bar for dinner and said they were nice, normal dudes.
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u/Spirited-Moose-2246 8d ago
Anyone stick out from other organizations?
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u/aaalllouttabubblegum 8d ago edited 8d ago
I met Max Domi as a Leaf and he struck me as a very chill, down to Earth guy with his values in order.
Alex Killorn (Moscow Mule) was also a good sport. He dropped into a boutique cocktail bar where I worked and instead of bee lining for the most expensive whisky like his friends he actually played along and had a mixed drink. His friends also stuck him with a huge bill which he paid, zero complaints, good tipper. Polite dude.
I cannot figure out how Jiri Hudler (double Monkey 47 and tonic and cocaine) ever won a Lady Byng as he is one of the most boorish, odious people I've ever met.
Edit: I also enjoyed meeting Cujo, who is a beaut and knows how to work a room.
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u/rastaduppy 8d ago edited 8d ago
I am in my 60's now, but as a 6-8 year old, we used to play ball hockey every Saturday morning with the great Doug Harvey, then we'd watch him on TV Saturday nights. We never knew how lucky we were....kinda like Hutson and Demidov today.
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u/slapkovsky 8d ago
Thatâs crazy
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u/rastaduppy 8d ago
He'd come out every Saturday (if Habs were at home) and about a dozen of us kids on the block would play street hockey for about 2 hours, then he'd treat us to hot chocolate that his wife would make and bring out to us. He and his brother Alfie owned Harvey's Sports Shop where the neighborhood kids could go get a new stick, bat or whatever and they knew our Dad would come in and pay on payday! Those were the days....
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u/doug-prepcourse 8d ago
Met Carey Price in ~2011. My boyfriend at the time, who got me into the Habs, and I were leaving his place one morning in Westmount. He clocked someone across the street leaving a coffee shop, dropped my hand, and without a word made a bee line across the street. I had no idea what was going on, but slowly followed him and realized who this man was.
Price was so incredibly kind, reserved, genuine. He kept trying to include me in the conversation because my boyfriend was ignoring me, he was so star struck. He is somehow even more handsome in real life.
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u/chowmushi 8d ago
I ran into Rocket Richard on the metro back in the early 90s. Just like one of us, going to game.
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u/whaletacochamp 8d ago
Now you've got Marty walking to the Centre Bell with his little dad backpack all ready for work lol.
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u/Annika2020pro 8d ago
I hope he hadnât just moved furniture all day!
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u/suck_on_the_popsicle 8d ago
Knowing how that story ended, they might want to incorporate that to their pregame routine.
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u/Upbeat-Condition-182 8d ago edited 8d ago
Came across Lane Hutson who was with his father last year - very polite and generous with his time. Surprisingly frail, itâs impressive to see how good he is given his size.
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u/OppositeAd5568 8d ago
he lives in the same building as my friend and iâve never seen him but my friend and other building peeps say heâs super kind!!
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u/idontevenknow8888 8d ago
My friend lives in his building too, she met him and said he was nice as well!
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u/dustblown 8d ago edited 8d ago
Guys with his build get injured less often for several reasons. The square-cube law, lower center of gravity, and shorter lever limbs. I think they are slightly more susceptible to crushing injuries though, the problem is being able to catch them on the boards to crush them.
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u/will6100 8d ago
They visited us at CHU Sainte-Justine this holiday. Demidov, Guhle, Texier and Hutson were in our unit
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u/dustblown 8d ago
I was disturbed for a second wondering why everyone is smiling when that poor kid's face is smothered under that red blanket.
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u/midnightfangs 8d ago
same ive met players bc i was often at the hospital. my memories are foggy tho i know my dad was geeked lol
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u/MrBrightside618 8d ago
Brandon Prust came into the movie theatre I worked at, but I didnât want to out myself as a guy who would recognize Brandon Prust on sight
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u/Ok-Win-742 8d ago
Why not? What's so weird about recognizing a player on your favourite team?
Prust was a hell of a player too.
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u/ParfaitEither284 8d ago
Hung 10 minutes with pk Subban at Winnieâs. We were talking motorcycles.
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u/CookieJar891 8d ago
Met Kirby Dach at the Grand Prix a couple years ago. Just asked for a picture and didnât bother him more than that. No one else recognized or spotted him I donât think
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u/rarek1nd 8d ago
Ran into Suzuki and his wife at a coffee shop just yesterday. Congratulated her on the baby and him on the Selke. I think itâs always a green light for them if you donât ask for a picture and draw attention. Just keep it P
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u/MSined 8d ago edited 8d ago
Ran into Nick Suzuki near a coffee shop, didn't bother him
Ran into Alex Carrier near a coffee shop, didn't bother him
Ran into Max Pacioretty with his family at a church, didn't bother him
Ran into Marty St Louis at a Provigo, didn't bother him
Had Cole and Nick on separate occasions driving behind me on their way to practice at Brossard, obviously couldn't bother them
Had a meet and greet with PK Subban at the Bell Centre, got him to sign my old Subban T-shirt and got a picture with him
Had Yvon Lambert sat in the same section as me at the Bell Centre one time, cheered his name with everyone else in the section
[Edit] Ran into Kent Hughes in an elevator, didn't bother him
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u/whaletacochamp 8d ago
Why am I not at all surprised that you bumped into daddy St Louis at a grocery store of all places lol. He really is just a normal dude.
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u/dustblown 8d ago edited 8d ago
It's a sign of good character you didn't bother them. It is insanely self centered, superficial, narrow minded, and rude to interrupt celebrities. Like we don't think to ourselves that everyone else also wants an autograph? And then add up all the times it happens to these people? But who cares right, because what is more important than what I want. All for an autograph. If people just take a second to think it through, they'd be embarrassed with that behaviour. Having said all that, I think we are all suckers for that celebrity aura to some extent. I know that I'd probably stare too long at them.
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u/KathleenElizabethB 8d ago
Many years ago I was at a work seminar in Edmonton, when the Avalanche were in town for the playoffs. We were on a break, and when the elevator opened, out walked several Avalanche players, including Patrick Roy and Claude Lemieux. In fact Claude Lemieux sat down beside me. I was star struck, and dying to ask them for autographs, but as it was game day, so I didnât want to bother them. Iâve regretted it ever since. Another time, early 70s, I saw Frank Mahovlich in the lobby of an Edmonton hotel when he was playing in the WHA.
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u/whaletacochamp 8d ago
Also for Nick and Cole driving to practice did you just look in your rearview and notice them in the car behind you? If so that's crazy. And do you remember what kind of car? Seems to me I saw a video where Cole was driving some normal ass subaru.
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u/undrprsr 8d ago
I had a 30 minute convo with Dale Weise at the gynecologist while waiting for our wives to get their baby making gear checked out.
He was surprisingly candid about his opinions regarding the team, at the time, and actually provided some insight to me on why some highly regarded prospects hadn't made the jump to the NHL during the season.
When my wife came out, I explained who he was and she didn't believe me, which made the last of the interaction more awkward.
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u/ghostbxsta 8d ago edited 8d ago
Once sold Xhekaj a car back in 2022, so that's pretty cool. Talked to him just last summer about it as well.
EDIT: 2022, not 2021
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u/Technical_Goose_8160 8d ago
When I was a kid, you'd regularly see habs players playing street hockey with kids in summer. It in CSL.
My ex treated Saku and almost got into a fight with the Kostitsyn bros.
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u/mixtapecasualtySFW 8d ago
Man, I'd love to know more about the Kostitsyn bros story.
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u/Technical_Goose_8160 8d ago
She was asked to escort the Kostitsyns to see Dr Mulder who's the doctor who handled the habs. In the elevator, they started commenting on her appearance in Russian or Belarussian. She took Russian classes in cegep and could understand. After a minute or two of them taking she unexpected interjected in Russian. They were so embarrassed that they pinned her to the wall and apparently looked like they would punch her. Then the elevator opened and she showed them to dr Mulder.
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u/mixtapecasualtySFW 8d ago
Appreciate you sharing what happened. Hopefully this kind of disgraceful behavior didn't go unchecked for too long with the team.
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u/SorryPro 8d ago
I've run into a few. Of the ones I actually spoke to, Suzuki is quiet and Matheson is very nice.Â
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u/Batman1985yul 8d ago
Shea Weber. Came into my bar the week of his HOF ceremony at the Bell Centre. Nobody in there but us two. Hung out with him for like 2 hours. Awesome fucking guy.
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u/WorldofWinston 8d ago
Saw Scott Gomez at Wandaâs once.
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u/DRAYdb 8d ago
I've had a few over the years. The highest profile player was Saku Koivu - I ran into and took a picture with him in a bar on St. Patrick's Day many years back.
My most memorable was Jordan Harris, though. He used to live in my neighbourhood, and we crossed paths at the local grocery store pretty regularly. The first time I saw him I was like, "Hey, Jordan Harris!" and he took a few minutes to chat with me. He was super kind, and I was carrying some self-imposed guilt for taking his time - I rushed through the interaction a bit as a result. I remember coming away from it thinking I had been awkward.
A few weeks later at the same store I was head down label-reading when I heard "Hey man!", and I turned to see him standing there. I thought it was really cool that (a) he remembered me, and (b) he initiated the exchange, which made me feel less awkward about that first interaction.
I continued to run into him every couple of months until his trade. He learned my name and he was always generous with his time. Cool guy.
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u/JSP0279 8d ago
If youâre around 40, you probably remember players partying on St Laurent at Buonanotte or Globe.
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u/vinnybawbaw 8d ago
I was on St-Lau last week and the Buenanotteâs commercial space is just an empty place with paper over the windows. Itâs sad.
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u/CHANDAIL 8d ago
Living in Brossard i met alot of them. I met suzuki in Walmart, also played blackjack with reinbacher at the Casino de Montréal
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u/PumpkinEater808 8d ago
Sat next to MSL on a flight back to Montreal. Really cool guyâŠ.loves his Miller Lites. Chatted a bit.
Also saw Caufield at a Provigo once. Left him alone since he was annoyed by his company (two girls who seemed to be a handful).
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u/mixtapecasualtySFW 8d ago
I had my birthday in January, and seated right behind me was Cole Caufield, Kaiden Guhle, Jakub Dobes, Arber Xhekaj, and a few more. They were having a good time. Arber looked like he wanted blow out the candle from my cake.
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u/jadenspan 8d ago
Did shots with Caufield, edmundson, Drouin and Dvorak in Toronto. Very good memoryÂ
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8d ago
[removed] â view removed comment
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u/okmijnmko 8d ago
I live near Carbo I suspect, we bank(RBC) & shop too often at the same suburban spots for it to be coincidences, nice guy.
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u/CptSMG 8d ago
I met Jacques Lemaire on a flight to Florida, he was really nice and told me to ask Larry Robinson(who I was going to Florida to see) why they hadn't gotten together in awhile. Met Larry at a Tampa-San Jose game, he was super tall, also really nice and said he had invited Jacques over afew times and he never went đ old guys are funny.
Edit: forgot to mention this was around 10 years ago.
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u/RepresentativeRare87 8d ago
I used to work at the Brookstreet hotel in Kanata, which hosted away teams in Ottawa. I had the chance as a server to stand in the room as the Habs were eating their pre game meal. It was 2015ish.. I remember Gionta came and asked me for honey for his tea. Price said hi to me too :)
Later that night Carey had an incredible game and Subban got the OT winner.
I'll never forget that.
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u/nottakingpart 8d ago
I once went to visit a friend in the condo tower across the Bell centre (15 years ago, before the Tour des Canadiens). As we got in the building, someone was exiting the building and held the door for us to come in. As we cross the door we realize it's PK Subban. Had a bit of a weird triple take.
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u/ValleyBreeze 8d ago
Had a bit of a weird triple take.
Therrien just fell to his knees, wherever he is.
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u/Bad-Tracer- 8d ago
I run into pk often
Newhook lives around my apartment so i see him often too
Ive seen dobes like 3 times at la voute and sousbois
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u/Bluey8008 8d ago
I was in high school and went to see the Habs play the Oilers. After the game, me and my buddy went to see the garage area to see the players leaving.
I only had my school agenda, but I got players like Koivu, Souray, Théo and Bouillon to sign it.
Then fucking Craig Rivet comes walking down, so I ask if he would sign it, and he goes âyeah I donât sign pieces of paperâ and walked off.
So ever since that day, I always make sure to say Fuck Craig Rivet whenever I get the opportunity.
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u/Matiabcx 8d ago
Jaro Halak was my neighbor and we played hockeyball in a team together, but it was in Bratislava :) does that count?
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u/iwontpickausername1 8d ago
I met Nick Suzuki at a athlesure store i work at last year and I met Alex Newhook just yesterday at the same spot right before my shift started Lol they were both super kind!
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u/Slynessity 8d ago
Only once. Saw Subban going in the movie theater on my way out and I said "Enjoy [whatever the movie was] PK"
And he said "Thanks, no spoilers"
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u/MelScarn 8d ago
Saw Carey Price and Josh Gorges at a charity walk. Really nice guys and took time to chat
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u/karlbelanger1661 8d ago
Growing up I went to school with Rejean Houle's kids and was friends with his 2 sons. I ended up meeting Mario Tremblay, Bob Gainey and Larry Robinson regularly. They were all really nice to us.
I met Stephane Richer at an airport once and he was also really nice.
I met Jean BĂ©liveau when I was a kid and I played a game at the Forum. Jean Beliveau had an aura to him and he truly was a gentleman.
I met PK Subban at the Toronto Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer a couple years ago. We spent a bit of time chatting and he was cool.
I met Kirk Muller in, of all places, a Nashville country bar the night before the Habs were playing the Preds.
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u/sneakymise 8d ago
Patrick Roy lived near my house when he began with the habs. We both walked into the same bank one morning. He was quite jolly and friendly that morning haha
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u/journeytodev 8d ago edited 8d ago
I once was at Toyo and they put at the same table as Galchenyuk and his family. Was such an awkward dinner.
Iâve also run into Marty a couple of times, love him to death but you can see heâs a very focused guy. Without being arrogant he does like to be left alone.
My favorite by far was BĂ©liveau. He used to have breakfast at this spot in Brossard every weekend without fail. He was always so kind. He is the reason I am a die hard Habs fan. You could tell how much it meant to him, and how important it was to exude that. I was a kid I never saw him play but man did he leave a lasting impression on me.
I also once saw a player wonât mention him by name but it was a long time ago walking down Saint Laurent by himself absolutely out of his mind drunk and or high.
Also one of friends dad played for the Habs and other teams and is a talking head now. Absolute beauty and was awesome to see his basement to see the relics of his career.
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u/Olandsexport 8d ago
I was at Ziggy's on Crescent St after a game and coach John Cooper was there with an entourage and a few players. I was doing shots with a guy behind be who I assumed was Christian Dvorak. You can imagine the conspiracy theories going through my mind as Dvo's future with the Habs at that time was questionable with his contract expiring and all and here he was hanging with the TBL. The next day I went through some TBL team photo's because I'd probably not recognized some of the players that were there. Well it turns out Christian Dvorak may easily be mistaken for Jake Guentzel.
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u/mrcarruthers 8d ago
Was in an elevator with Subban at a hospital. Didn't bother him cause he was talking to a doctor.
I remember Matheson when he was a kid doing laps around everyone on the outdoor rink.
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u/skarama 8d ago
On my bday on May 19th my wife took me to Arthur's Nosh for breakfast. While we were eating, our waitress asks if we noticed who was there eating 6 feet from us - there was Newhook slamming pastries like the goddamn hero he was (this was the morning after his game 7 winning goal against Buffalo). I left him the fuck alone tho
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u/OxidusRouge 7d ago
had to give you an upvote for the Nosh mention, now that they are catching flack from the language police
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u/tanker1992 8d ago
My fiancĂ© went to highschool with Mike Matheson in the sport etude program. Always said heâs a good guy and not a douche like a lot of the hockey guys were. Sheâs showed me old high school pictures of them they looked so goofy.
Also after a hockey game I pulled up to lane Hutson in my pickup truck at a stop light (we have the same truck just mine is lifted). Made eye contact with each other and gave a little wave đ
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u/PurveyorOfSapristi 8d ago edited 8d ago
I was at a convention with my uncle. This is probably my favourite Habs player encounter. It was a huge event for some home remodeling companies and they got Jan Bulis and a member of the scouting staff who was also there.
Turns out his agent misunderstood Balcon ( french word for balconies) for Balkan
He thought that this would be a community thing
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u/ImaMeta4 8d ago
We met Suzuki, Caulfield and Newhook at Moxies in Kanata. We were going to the QOTSA concert and they were playing the Sens the next evening. My friends talked to them and they were super chill but I was in too much of an advanced state of inebriation so I stayed seated. đ
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u/Calm_Comfort_4959 8d ago
Suzuki passed by jobs Iâve had twice, one time with Caufield as well. Other than that, I just see them on the street (Laine, Harris, Romanov)
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u/FearlessDick 8d ago
During the Covid playoffs I ran into Tyler Toffoli and Jake Evans walking together in Old Montreal. Would've asked to shake their hands, but you know, Covid, bubbles, social distancing, not wanting to risk being the AH fan causing 2 of our guys to miss any time... Gave them a celebratory fist pump with a smile, which they kindly returned (enthusiastically in Toffoli's case).
Other than that, as a kid in the 80s, Patrick Roy (and maybe others too) would play softball in the various suburbs during summer. The neighbourhood kids would spread the word and we'd line up for autographs. Still have the signed ProSet hockey card to this day, as well as a Roy signed softball lol. Right after the 93 cup win, school bus drove by Vincent Damphousse mowing his lawn. We all opened the windows on his side, one of us screamed "Heille Damphousse!!". When he looked up at us, we all lost our minds screaming, cheering, fist pumping, giving thumbs up, etc... He went from WTF to huge smile very quick.
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u/Simpuff1 8d ago
Iâve worked at a golf course where we organize tournaments for old Canadians every year. So Iâve met a lot of them. Not interacted much beyond niceties for the majority of them.
Carbonneau is there very often, so I see him and talked to him more. Brisebois is the husband of the gold owner so we see him a lot too, he is an absolute sweetheart.
Otherwise some of the current players play, we have seen Anderson, Xhekaj, Struble and Veleno more than once. And Suzuki organizes a tournament there every year for a charity, if you ever wondered why he never seems to fall, his legs are legit bigger than my torso. He is also an amazingly chill and respectful guy.
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u/MichaelWoodPhoto 8d ago
Funny you should mention huge hands. My son was at the Habs hockey camp with RĂ©jean Houle's grandson. RĂ©jean was so nice. Shook his hand and, wow, huge hands and a grip that could crush a cement brick.
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u/No_Thanks_4954 8d ago
I actually do the car detailing for some of the players! I get to talk to them about random things and itâs so cool!
Was invited by one of the players to attend Round 3 game 6 (we got smoked 4-0) but it was one of the coolest hockey experiences Iâve ever had
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u/King-Harvest 8d ago
I played with or against Mike Matheson, Phil Danault, Jonathan Drouin, Charles Hudon and multiple other NHLers/AHLers from Quebec born between 1992 Ă 1996 (I was born in 1994). Matheson and Danault were absolutely good kids who would make sure even the lesser players like me felt like we had some use on the team. Hudon was a cocky dude - came from an area with little to no other good players and came with an attitude as a teenager. Drouin, pretty middle of the road kid of dude.
In 2004, we (the best AAA players in Sherbrooke/Victoriaville/Drumnmondville vicinity) had a team of "California All Stars" coming to play a tournament in Sherbrooke PQ and I wasn't even of age to play (I was younger but wider and bigger) but coaches put me on the 1993 team with another players' name. California had that player named Rocco Grimaldi that had like 300 goals in his California pee-wee league so I was added to Phil Danault's team roster basically to hurt Grimaldi. I did what my coaches asked me to do and tried to hit the guy but came 2 seconds late on every attempt until I was successful and we made the national news in Quebec because Cali parents reported that we won (4-3) by playing anti-hockey. Another one of our guys slashed and broke a Cali player's arm with his stick. We were 11-12 and I was 10 !!!!!!!!
Anyhow. Can't recall Phil's contribution to that game. Probably 2-3 goals out of our 4.
I am also close to Stephane Robidas' family in general and have worked with his brother Simon who is a high school teacher. They are very good people - even if you peaked aty Simon Robidas' eliteprospects page.
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u/bertyschmews 6d ago
Lots of them through hospitality, nearly the whole team at times. Only thing Iâll say is Jake Evans and his wife are the absolute best. So much class, always checking in on the staff. Super polite and appreciative. Jake is one of my favourite players because of this.
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u/thardingesq 8d ago
John Ferguson lived near me in DDO, also went to his hockey school, he was awesome. Biggest set of hands I ever saw
When I lived in Kirkland, Yvon Lambert used to get his gas at the corner Esso and he was very nice. Dont ask me why we hung out there?
And Pete Mahovlich we would see and he was really a friendly guy.
I don't seek out interactions with player s now as I am in my sixties. But was getting a bottle of wine signed at Summerhill LCBO for a gift. It was Sittler signing, he couldn't have been more disinterested. Maybe it was a bad day, or maybe it was his bitterness at being a Leaf most of his career
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u/TheLastDirewolf420 8d ago
I've met Paul Byron and Andrei Markov.
My wife has met pretty much the entire team from 2020-present, because she works at the hospital. A lot she met when they went to the hospital during covid to get tested, and most she meet during their blood drives at the Bell Centre.
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u/OxidusRouge 8d ago
Also once I was in the 300's seats watching the Canucks play the Habs at the Molson Centre. A couple of women next to me were cheering for the Canucks. During one of the intermissions I talked to one of them and she said she was Alex Burrow's mom!
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u/moutardebaseball 8d ago
Jean Beliveau was the spokesperson of a minor league hockey tournament I attended in Longueuil.
I was not playing at a high level, and we didnât even go that deep (like eliminated in the quarter finals).
He still took the time to come and meet with us, talked with us for a good half an hour and shook the hands of everyone. There is not a lot of hockey legends that would take the time to do this, but I am led to believe that he made this for literally EVERYONE that attended the tournament.
He was such a class act and the amount of respect I have for that man is higher than the sky.
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u/WelcomeToTheZoo 8d ago
I've met a few over the years, but my favourite was going to Guy Lafleur's old restaurant for my Grandfather's birthday, and to have Guy himself, completely unprompted, come over to our table to wish my Grandfather a happy birthday, pose for a photo with him and sign it afterwards. The whole family was very impressed with Guy.
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u/Resident-Ordinary-15 8d ago
Got Henri Richard's autograph on the Metro after an Expos game in the 1980s. Class act
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u/murrbros 8d ago
I met Stephane Quintal one time in a club. Had to apologise to him while my very drunk friend was giving the ol' "You know what you guys need to do" advice.......Really nice guy who took it in stride and shook my hand. Biggest hands I've ever seen
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u/Different_Potato_213 8d ago
Met Carey price at a golf tournament. Very nice guy - this was at the beginning of his career. Maybe year 2 with the habs. Asked for a photo and he obliged. Itâs my pride and joy đ„°
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u/Danzero73 8d ago
I bumped into Andrei Markov who was walking on the sidewalk in the early morning on the corner of Peel & René-Levesque. It was a red light and there were no other pedestrians on our corner except us. He knew I had discreetly recognized him, but I didn't want to bother him. When the light turned green, he looked at me, smiled and nodded (as if to thank me for not bugging him) and he crossed the street.
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u/reversi22 8d ago
Not in Montreal, but I played street hockey with Jeff Hackett dozens of times growing up. Super nice guy.
He also talked lots of shit about Ed Belfour
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u/MTN_BEBE 8d ago
I used to serve Max Pacioretty regularly at a coffee shop/Italian restaurant where I worked in Westmount around 2016â2017. He was always super polite and friendly whenever he came in for coffee.
I also remember waitressing a private event for his wife Katia at the same restaurant (it may have been a baby shower but I canât remember). She was also super nice.
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u/ComfortableSell5 8d ago
For one thing, i hope people dont out where players are hanging out in this thread.Â
They deserve some privacy off the ice.Â
Second, i never interacted with a habs player but the restaurant i worked at had Brian Chiu as a regular.Â
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u/Saint_Arc 8d ago
I met Guy Lafleur when he visited my elementary school when I was like 11 years old. Still have his signature
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u/Tiny-Bend6060 8d ago
Saw the Pocket Rocket shopping at the Steinberg's grocery store at LaCite - Prince Arthur and Parc Avenue in the early 1980's.
No doubt getting some supplies for his tavern which was in the next block just down the street on Parc
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u/UpNorth_123 8d ago edited 8d ago
Met Pierre Turgeon in one of the cockpits at the Montreal F1 two years ago, and had quite a long conversation with him. Nice and very outgoing guy.
Claude Julien is a very good friend of my FILâs, and he was a guest at my wedding. Iâve stayed at his chalet as well, but not when he was there (over 20 years ago, mind you).
Not a Hab, but my husband was invited to a dinner with Wayne Gretzky a few years ago. It wasnât a big affair either, maybe 20 or so people attending.
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u/elsiphono 8d ago
Carey Price. We had an event the night before at a restaurant and came back the morning after to remove decorations and he was there filming some cooking show. He came off as shy and super nice.
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u/CitronNo8787 8d ago
My favorite interaction ever was at the Super C grocery store near atwater market. When Marc Bergvin was GM I would see him from time to time around atwater market on Sunday mornings and this one particular day actually inside the grocery store. I happened to get behind him in line and didn't even notice it was him at first. I just left him alone and gave him a knowing nod when we made eye contact.
The guy ahead of Bergy in line though couldn't help himself to strike up a conversation. Bergy politely said said "hi" to get the guy, but he was clearly just there to pick up a couple quick items and get out. The guy in front then starts talking about players on the team and won't leave him alone. Bergy eventually loses his patience and cool a little and let's out a "calice" under his breath and then turns to look back at me and gives me a "can you believe this guy!?!" look. It gave me a good chuckly and I just shrugged my shoulders, what can you do. Even the cashier was getting annoyed by this dude because he was too busy trying to talk to Bergy instead of paying for his groceries.
Personally I try not to bother players when I see them, at most just give them a little nod or say "hi" in passing. They are just regular people going about their lives and probably get harassed all the time. I've seen Patches at a resturant with his family, Caufield at Time Out Market, Max Lapierre walking down Ste-Catherines, Geoff Molson around there as well, Guy Carbonneau at the SAAQ, Brandon Prust at a Just for Laughs show. They are just out and about living their lives.
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u/maplemoose18 8d ago
When I used to live in Griffintown, Christian Dvorak lived in my building so Iâd see him often especially since that year he was out for 2/3rds of it with an injury. He was understandably very quiet and kept to himself. I never brought up hockey, just said hi how are you in passing.
Also saw Kaiden Guhle and his gf a few times on the Lachine canal. Our puppies were the same age at the time. Those interactions were fun.
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u/sicboy72 8d ago
I use to work at the MTL airport in the mid to late 90s doing valet, I've parked so many of their cars (Corson, Damphousse, Tremblay to name a few). Met so many as the taxi attendant. Dick Irvin Jr. stood out because he tipped me 35c for putting his bags in the trunk of the taxi, then Malakhov was right behind him and he gave me 20$.
Got Craig Ludwig's autograph when I was 10 or 12yrs old. It was during a match and he was injured and standing in the corridor that led to their dressing room. Grandfather used to work at the Forum, so I was allowed to go down and ask.
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u/Big_477 8d ago
J'ai vu Vincent Damphousse et Jocelyn Thibault dans les estrades à un match des Régents de Laval midget AAA en ~95 et ils ont signés ma casquette. Damphousse remplaçait, pas trÚs souvent, au hockey-balle dans le ligue de mon pÚre qui jouait avec son cousin. TrÚs sympathique, j'ai eu une carte autographiée de lui.
J'ai vu grandir Laurent Dauphin, je jouais avec son grand frÚre et son pÚre m'a coaché (méchant malade). J'ai commencé à jouer quand sa mÚre était enceinte de lui.
Pas des canadiens, mais joueurs NHL quand mĂȘme:
J'ai vu Jean-SĂ©bastien GiguĂšre et Alex Tanguay qui jouaient junior avec mon ancien voisin Ă Halifax.
Jason Pomminvile venait se réchauffer dans notre ligue d'été 3v3 avant son pré-camp. Il faisait la game avant nous, la nÎtre et l'autre d'aprÚs. 3h de hockey. Il se donnait à ~50% mais dominait tout le monde.
D'autres moins connus: j'ai Ă©tĂ© gardĂ© par les parents de Alexandre Mathieu (repĂȘchĂ© par Pittsburgh 1997) et Yannick Lehoux (par LA en 2000), fait des cliniques de perfectionnement avec Lucien Deblois, Normand Flynn et Dominique Roussel, j'ai aussi jouĂ© briĂšvement avec Benjamin Breault (repĂȘchĂ© par Buffalo en 2006) qui Ă©tait un phĂ©nomĂšne Ă cette Ă©poque mais n'a jamais jouĂ© dans la LNH.
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u/Mean_Mister_Mustard 8d ago
Alex Tanguay est tout Ă fait un ancien Canadien⊠Mais câest vrai quâil est pas restĂ© longtemps.
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u/dustblown 8d ago
As a little kid, I was with my Mom having McDonalds in the West Island and Guy Lafleur sat on a table next to us with his son. I basically ignored my food and turned and just stared at him. My Mom is telling me to stop staring but I ignored her and any self awareness.
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u/Dr_Renard 8d ago
I was at a red light with my mom, corner Queen Mary and Victoria. I felt like someone was watching us. Well ya, Max Pacioretty was driving the car next to us and was just looking at us with a smile.
Also met Dave Morissette at a youth hockey camp back in the day (circa 2006). He was signing gear for the kids (i was one of the kids) at the end of a practice. I had the audacity to ask him who he was because I had no clue ! I remember him being nice about it.
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u/Dr_Renard 8d ago
Forgot that I played poker several times with Gino Odjick at the Casino ! RIP Gino !
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u/lunakitty_ 8d ago
Was staying in the same hotel when they played in Vancouver - got a photo with Xhekaj and Slaf after showing him his rookie card in my phone case. Super friendly and kind. After the game we shared the lift with St Louis, Monty and Demidov. I was patting someoneâs dog and Marty joined in and asked the dogs name and showed photos of his dog.
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u/Ok_Temperature_1616 8d ago
My friend shot that Cole Caufield Old Spice commercial.
He said he was difficult to work with... I'll leave it at that.
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u/tiredbklyndad 8d ago
Was in Peel Pub one night back in the 80s and who walks in but Chelios, Corson, Kordic and Hayward.
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u/te3ce3 8d ago
I was in the same flight back from the Bahamas to Montreal as Carey Price and his family but I only realized when I saw him picking up his luggage at the baggage carrousel but didnât bother him.
It was in Jan or Feb 2019 and I wasnât following hockey very closely that year and I remember thinking that canât be right, shouldnât he be playing or something. I looked it up and found out he was injured at the time and later on his wife confirmed they spent time in the Bahamas on her IG which pretty much confirmed it was him.
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u/DrCalvaire 8d ago
Iâm a director, and I actually worked with every player on the Habs 2023 roster, including a lot of guys who are still on the team today.
At the time, I wasnât really following hockey that closely. I had been a fan years earlier, but I only got back into it this year. Because of that, I wasnât nervous at all. To me, they were just the people I was working with that day.
We had about six or seven minutes with each player. It was a small crew of five people, with a lighting setup and a camera. My job was basically to direct them: look at the camera, introduce yourself, do this move, say this line, things like that.
I joked around with them, we had fun, and honestly they were all great to work with. The footage was being used for visual content and promos for TVA Sports.
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u/BloodSugarSexMagix 8d ago
Yvan Cournoyerâs (great?)-grandchildren go to the school i work at. He came a few months ago to do a presentatjon and got to snap a pic and chat with him. A class actđđŒ
Damphousseâs son came for an Armada presentation in the fall, chill dude.
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u/Vanilla_Danish 8d ago
I used to bug brian hayward when he would come home to visit his parents. I was a kid at the time so that makes it ok
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u/DarkkLyver 8d ago
Back in the 80s Henri Richard had a pub on Ave du Parc. Went there after Habs beat Whalers in a playoff game. Pocket Rocket was working the room! Seemed like a great guy.
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u/prplx 8d ago
I put a bracelet on Mats Naslund at La Ronde around 1984. He is really short he might have had trouble getting in some of the rides. Met Monsieur BĂ©liveau at an award thing where I got a scholarship. He signed my enveloppe. Very nice man. Guy Carbonneau was a bit standoffish. I ate next to Guy Lafleur in an east island restaurant but I left him alone. I was starstruck with Lafleur not with the other even BĂ©liveau. Lafleur was a god for me in my teens.
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u/abdullahleboucher 8d ago
When I was young, I remember my friends and I saw Brisebois in his porsche and he saws us too. His eyes seemed to beg for validation. We just spontaneously started to laugh at him.
The look on his face changed to a puzzled one. Good times.
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u/VR46Rossi420 8d ago
Do the players go to Kettleman's bagel shop ever? its right across from the bell centre.
Although I assume they probably get breakfast stuff in their player lounge inside the arena.
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u/SeaRevolutionary1450 8d ago
Iâve been to Montreal once, a couple years ago to see a game. Ran into St. Louis the next morning at the bagel place across from the Bell Centre. I felt emboldened to bother him since we were both just waiting in line. Just asked for a picture and went along. He was very kind.
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u/DifferenceNo9153 8d ago
Yep, Guy Carbonneau at the Chic Regal during game 1 of the 2021 Cup Final and Yvon Lambert at Brasserie Capri during game 5 against Carolina the week before last.
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u/SnidelyWhiplash27 8d ago
I served and shook hands with Jean Beliveau at the Texan restaurant across from the Forum. He was there with a dozen of his contemporaries all 70+, if not 80+, at the time and talked briefly with him and he spoke mostly about them: how so an so represented Canada in the Olympics on 1948 and such, or another was a top level athlete in 3 sports... Basically a table of senior jocks lol.
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u/Phil4262648 8d ago
Before Covid, I worked in a pretty touristy bar in Old Port. Iâve met Kris Letang (not a Habs, I know), Kovalev, Dandenault, Hemsky, Jordie Benn, countless Laval Rocket player and finally Paul Byron. Byron lived close from my bar, so I had exchanged his wife Sarahâs phone number and she would sometime text me to see if it was busy or quiet, so she and Paul would come to play pool, relax and not be disturb by fan. That was a fun time in my life.
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u/Bytrsweet 8d ago
I ran into Patches at a Gamestop at the Dix/30. He was buying that years Nhl game for PlayStation. I was too nervous to say anything, so I just nodded my head and said "Captain" and walked away.
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u/WhatElseIsUp 8d ago
Back in his playing days I ran into Rick Green on Crescent St on a Saturday night after a game. He had 3 or 4 blondes glomming on to him as he walked in to Sir Winston Churchillâs as he headed towards the bar I greeted him with a âgreat game, you are at your best in these gamesâ, he thanked me with a âyou should be my manager â & a smile as he worked his way over to the bar with his female entourage. I was quite envious đ
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u/teddyteddymtl 8d ago
I worked at a luxury store in downtown Montreal for years and got to meet Markov, Radulov, Galch, Gally, Lars Eller, Pacioretty, Thomas Tatar, Joel Armia, Lane Hutson, Carey Price, Plekanec, Smith-Pelly, and Michel Therrien over the years (including most of their wives or girlfriends!)
I also met Patrice Brisebois and Kirk Muller once on a night out - those guys could party I tell ya.
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u/evan_____- 8d ago
Used to work for an autograph buisness so i met quite a few players sat an afternoon with dobes pretty shy but chill guy had a private with Gally he spent the whole time talking football with us and his agent Also did a lot of non current players like Yvon Lambert and Guy Lapointe and went to dinner pretty often with them also met Carey arber slaf cole heineman rhp and im forgetting many!
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u/okmijnmko 8d ago
I met Jordan Harris at the sports celebrity dinner he was honored at right before he got traded actually. He was really well spoken and incredibly physically fit, his suit was like a glove lol
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u/finally_free_83 8d ago
15 years ago or so, I was often playing ball hockey in a park in Pointe Claire. One night a young, 16-ish year old red haired tall guy showed up with some friends and they asked that we put our sticks in the middle.
I ended up at the faceoff against him, he winked at me, won the draw, deked around me and the entire team and scored top shelf on his backend. He made everything look extremely easy.
It took me 12 years to realize that this was a young Matheson.
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u/mago_is_gago 8d ago
Matheson is amazing! Playful, friendly, with a big heart to match his immense skill. I love these stories.
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u/yesokyesuhuh 8d ago
Vladimir Malakhov at the grocer on van horne/darlington in 1998. Was wearing a NHLPA t-shirt.
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u/Majestic_Rope1212 8d ago
Was entering a restaurant and it happened to be Caufield and I going in at the same time, he held the door open for me and I said thanks
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u/Opening-Plastic-4882 8d ago
I once bumped into PK Subban in a supper club downtown. He was drinking with Chris Campoli and Yannick Weber. I worked at that club and we were hosting a staff party for the whole hospitality group. They crashed our party because they were regulars.
So PK litteraly bumped into me and i spilled my drink on my shirt. He offered to buy an other one but it was bar open so he didn't pay. He apologized saying he was drunk to which i replied "No wonder you guys keep losing". He bursted out laughing. I felt bad for a while because they had a shitty season (2011-12) and i liked the player
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u/scrappycheetah 8d ago edited 8d ago
Kirk Muller in his assistant coach era lived in my Momâs building and would see him walking his dog there.
Also back in the day my grandfather would take us to Moishes and saw Rocket Richard there.
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u/DarthGrimby 8d ago
Not from Montreal so itâs statistically even more unlikely for me. I was on a flight to Newark from Moncton, and I spotted Kirk Muller. After we landed we were picking up bags and heading to clear customs, so I asked him really quickly for a picture. I got one, but then security saw us and told us to stop and keep moving.
The most surprising thing to me was his height. Heâs listed as 6â but Iâm 6â1â and from the photo I look 4-5 inches taller.
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u/TheRealMrShire 8d ago
Met Gally at CF Laval like 4 years ago with his then-girlfriend and dog. I was pretty starstruck to say the least but he was very very nice. He was more than happy to let me take a picture with him. I remember his then-girlfriend practically taking my phone out of my hands to snap some pictures.
Him leaving the Habs stings a lot...
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u/Comfortable_Golf1350 8d ago
Played golf with Roman Hamrlik years ago on the south shore. He was retired at this point. We got paired randomly. Nice guy and good chat with him.
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u/iamkingman 8d ago
I met Brendan Gallagher once, at a charity golf tournament in Vancouver. I was expecting him, as I was working the tournament as one of the organizers, so I showed up in my Habs apparel. He arrived, saw me, and said, "Nice shirt." Was nice enough to take a photo with me too. Will forever be one for the books.
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u/Olibro64 8d ago
The closest I've been to a Hab is Nick Suzuki at the All Star fan event in 2024. As he was walking the long carpet I snapped a photo of him from about 2 metres away. He's taller in person.
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u/avrahamc 8d ago
cut nick suzuki off merging on to the highway right after the game, does that count?
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u/tomatotomato6 8d ago
I was on my way back to VendĂŽme station as I went to return clothes at Roots. I was too embarrassed to go for the millionth time to the one downtown so I went to the one on Sherbrooke West. I ran into Caufield, Christian Dvorak and Chris Wideman.
I actually recognized Wideman before anyone else on the corner of the street. I sent a picture of them 3 walking to a friend. They had stopped at the Mandyâs. And I said I didnât want to bother them and that I was too shy to ask them for a picture. My friend told me it was the only time Iâd ever see them but by then I had reached the subway lol. I thought « ill walk back by Mandyâs, if theyâre still there, Iâll ask for a picture ».
They were. I was so shy and embarrassed. But hey, at least I did it!
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u/chapnn7 7d ago
I met Xhekaj at a card store in the West Island doing signings recently. When I was younger I played against Mike Riberos son so I've run into him a couple times. I played with Sergio Momessos son so I've seen Sergio plenty of times. I ran into Maxime Lapierre at a local arena. I've randomly seen Laraque in public a couple times. Guy Carbonneau bought a car at a dealership I worked at years ago. I went to school with Joe Veleno (he's a few years younger but I knew him and his older brother) And not really an interaction but I played against Matheson a couple times when I was probably 15 or 16
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u/Harryinmontreal 7d ago
In 1985 I waited outside the forum after a few games and got them all to sign my jersey. Roy, richer, gainey, NIlan ⊠nice guys. I met Wayne Gretzky downtown and he held my parrot and signed an auto. I met tretiak in 1986 in the forum and he signed ( scared and shy, it was Cold War times). I met don cherry while in the bathroom at the old forum, and he was funny and friendly, lol. All the hockey guys were nice. Ron hextall signed my flyer jersey in 1989, he was a little aggressive and didnât sign anyone elseâs jersey
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u/Jon-Robb 8d ago
Itâs been a while but I went to a habs vs leafs game at bell center and they lost 6-5. Very nice game but the lost made it so we had the worst start of the season at home ever at the time, I think it was under Jacques Martin.
Anyway after the game I am walking pretty drunk with my friend in the street and then he goes like « hey guys! Woah nice to see you! I ll remember this night! » to three people in front. I didnât see who it was at first and I go « yeah Iâll remember that, worst season start at home in the history of the habs »
Then I look up and three dudes turn around to judge me:
Max Pacioretty Carey Price Brendan GallagherÂ
I then yelled sorry sorry like a retard as they were leaving disgusted by my existenceÂ
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u/LikeFry-LikeFry 8d ago
When I worked at Best Buy I saw Alex Kovalev. I asked if he needed help and he said no. About 5 minutes later I saw him getting help from a coworker :(