Mr. Speaker, 100 years ago today, the Montreal Canadiens hockey club was born. This great team has provoked dreams, laughter, singing, celebrations and sometimes frustration for millions of Quebeckers, and for Canadians across the country.
Since the club's inception, 776 players have worn the Canadiens jersey with pride. Among them were Maurice Richard, Dickie Moore, ”Boom Boom” Geoffrion, Jean Béliveau, Guy Lafleur and, of course, Ken Dryden.
I still remember those evenings with my father, watching TV, shouting and cheering for the Habs. I remember my first hockey game at the Montreal Forum. It was magical. I will never forget those moments.
I can still hear René Lecavalier describing Lafleur deking through the defence and finishing with, “He shoots. He scores.”
They have won not 1, not 5, not 10, but 24 Stanley Cups. And the next one is coming soon.
But the Habs are about more than winning the cup or winning games. They are part of our history and national pride and that is what we are celebrating today.
Happy birthday—Joyeux anniversaire—to the Montreal Canadiens.