Here we are. Today is the 30the Anniversary of the last Canadiens to win the Stanley Cup. In life, time is short and fast. It reminds us that the years go by in a flash. But in the Canadian world, 30 years without a haircut is an eternity.
At first we counted the years and figured that the trophy would eventually return to Montreal. We knew that the Canadian was no longer a dynasty and that he was no longer above the fight. The organization had become like the others.
But we had confidence because the CH was the CH. We made it personal. Because as the song says, the Canadian is a part of us. You don’t have to be a fan to know that Canadian is an institution compared to a religion.
Everyone knows the Canadian.
The Canadiens unite more than anything else in Montreal. It’s the only thing that connects almost all of us, no matter where we come from.
It was in the bag!
This was the atmosphere in the Forum on the evening of June 9, 1993. Before the game, there was joy in the building. A lot of the people there didn’t have tickets. But they were there because they knew it was the big night.
The Canadian couldn’t pass up this great opportunity to lift the famous trophy in front of his world.
June 9, 1993 has its roots in the sports history of Montreal and Quebec. Those old enough to remember will tell you where they were when the Canadiens players leaped onto the ice to the sound of the final siren, which set the Forum apart from other National League amphitheaters.
Photo courtesy of Richard Matte
It’s the only thing that’s moved to the Bell Center, by the way.
The ghosts stayed in the forum as if they didn’t agree to be part of what is called progress. One of them, Maurice Richard, accompanied by his dear Lucille, would not have missed this 24th conquest of the Holy Grail at any cost.
There was a part of him in that win. There was also a bit of all the other vintage cars that were there that night. Jean Béliveau, Dickie Moore, Henri Richard, Serge Savard, Jacques Lemaire.
Patrick Roy, Guy Carbonneau, Vincent Damphousse, Éric Desjardins and the many other Quebec players who were members of this Champion Edition knew what their big names stood for.
Anglophones like Kirk Muller, Brian Bellows, Lyle Odelein and John LeClair also knew the history of the organization.
The Great Unifier
All pursued the same goal: to win the Stanley Cup.
The head of this unit was Jacques Demers.
At the training camp, they told their players that they were capable of great things. Like winning the cup. The players looked at each other and wondered what had prompted their new coach to make that statement.
We’re not talking about the Stanley Cup in September.
When the big moment came, all the players hugged Demers like he was their father.
Jacques Demers, that little fellow from Côte-des-Neiges who had an unhappy childhood, had just brilliantly demonstrated that for someone who holds their head up, nothing is impossible.
The shadow of the painting
But in the streets surrounding the Forum, a few scattered people began destroying everything in their path.
Party killer of the worst kind!
It gave us a nice leg.
The photos went around America.
It’s funny that the following year in New York, the first Rangers championship in 54 years was celebrated without a gang of thugs spoiling the party.
It has to be said that with the many police officers surrounding Madison Square Garden, people had better keep silent. Salad baskets were everywhere.
Meanwhile, the Canucks’ loss to the Rangers in Vancouver sparked the worst riots in the city’s history.
When we say that hockey is a passion in Canada.
It drives Canadians crazy!
As well as a Canadian team that didn’t win the cup.
What will it be next time it happens?