A woman falling down the stairs in New Jersey, a dangerous marriage proposal in Madison Square Garden, a spectacular save by Carey Price, Alex Kovalev’s hair in the wind or Artturi Lehkonen’s magical goal at St. Jean Baptiste.
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At the 98.5 microphone, Martin McGuire and Dany Dubé, covering Montreal Canadiens games in their 22nd season, have a variety of stories to tell. They decided to immortalize them in a book called “Bon match!” in collaboration with the author François Couture.
On a rare day off during Habs camp on Tuesday, the Habs’ two voices on the radio detailed the adventure in an interview with the Journal.
“I had no ambition to publish a book and I didn’t think I was important enough in life to do that,” said McGuire, who described the book, with a burst of laughter. I’m just doing the job that I love in life. »
“At first I wasn’t sure about the project because we are still professionally active,” adds Dubé, who plays the role of analyst. But in the end I told myself that we are giving ourselves a gift. It is a sign that will remain. My children, my grandchildren will be able to read us and learn who Martin McGuire is, with whom I spent more than 20 years of my life. Basically that was the trigger. »
A great friendship
In terms of numbers, the duo McGuire and Dubé can look back on an impressive longevity with 21 seasons and more than 1,300 live recorded games. Their voices have shocked many supporters throughout.
Even though they have spent countless hours together at the Bell Center and on the road for two decades, the two men share a palpable bond. When we meet them in one of the 31 other amphitheaters across North America, we can bear witness to their sincere friendship.
“There is the love of hockey, but most of all there is the presence of Dany, a person I love and respect,” McGuire noted. I share many things from my life with him. We have great loyalty to each other. You can’t describe it with a number or a Piasse sign. But in my eyes we are talking about immense value on a human level. »
rhythm in the voice
A few days before the 22nd season, the two sidekicks still hadn’t had the pleasure of conquering the Stanley Cup. They experienced a final against the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021, in a season marked by COVID-19.
Dubé doesn’t hesitate for a second when asked to name McGuire’s most memorable description of the goal.
“That is Lehkonen’s goal on June 24th,” he replied. It’s an incredible goal, a collector’s item for me. The game built in a crescendo. And Martin described it with so much color and passion. He has a lot of rhythm in his voice. Martin might have played drums or guitar in another life! »
As a center with his winger, McGuire returns the puck by listing his partner’s qualities.
“Dany analyzes and edits the games very well in impeccable French. His analyzes are his own and do not adopt anyone else’s philosophy. He cannot be influenced. »
A 230 pound ballerina
“What a save from Carey Price!” » We heard this sentence many times in a CH match in which Martin McGuire shouted after a gem from number 31.
“Carey is the best player of our 21 seasons,” McGuire said. It’s such a shame that we didn’t manage to build a team in front of him. »
Archive photo, Martin Chevalier
Dubé also places Price at the top of his list of most electrifying players, but he also has a Russian in mind.
“The prize was a large ballerina, £230. He was so graceful. There is another player who is with the CH for his short time and that is Kovalev. He had Guy Lafleur on his nose, he was a crowd favorite. He had the ability to surprise you. »
Two anecdotes
In a game there are goals, assists, hits and saves. But sometimes there are moments that you can’t predict. Our two men tell us their two best anecdotes.
“A few years ago we were describing the game from the stands at Madison Square Garden. A couple of rows in front of us was a couple with a woman in her 30s and a man, McGuire recalls. The gentleman seemed very in love with the lady. There was electricity in the eyes of the Lord. But I specify it for the Lord. The lady turned to us when he wasn’t looking and smiled at us. During a commercial break, the camera moved towards her. The gentleman got down on one knee and proposed to her. I told Dany that we have to save this poor guy.
“There’s also our dead, drunken madame who fell down the steps at the old Meadowlands Arena in New Jersey,” the describer continued. She was already drinking during the warm-up. She stayed with her boyfriend. She wore a miniskirt and danced. She was standing on the stairs and we were afraid she would fall. »
“But she ended up falling about fifteen feet,” Dubé continued. She made a cast, a spin and finished her race in the strip. She had both legs on the bay window, her miniskirt hanging down and her buttocks leaning against the strip. We had decided on our description. It was a minute where we cried and couldn’t stop laughing. A minute is a long time on the radio. At the end we explained it. »
The worst amphitheaters
Although the Bell Center offers impeccable studios for describing a game on television or radio, the story is not the same everywhere. The cities of Denver and Anaheim do not have a passing grade.
“My worst place now is Colorado,” McGuire said. The owner built himself a lodge by demolishing three studios. We give priority to television and move the radio people. There’s nothing worse than describing the action when you see the players’ faces, you have to look past them. »
“For me, it’s Anaheim,” Dubé continued. At the Honda Center, the guy doing the transmission isn’t with us. It’s too small. There is no space for notes. I have to take notes during a game. I want a counter. I collect the key games over the course of the season. I get more irritable when I lose that. We have no place, we’re stuck. »
The need to be there
Dany Dubé remains categorical. A hockey game is described for him on site. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he lost an important aspect by missing several meetings.
“COVID had a strange side in general. When I analyzed a game in the studio during this time, I found it more painful. When I stay in the studio, it’s like I’m forced to look in a specific place. The cameraman decides where I should watch the game. I’m not cut out to make studio games, it’s not in my blood. I like to look elsewhere to see things that are behind or before the game. When I’m forced to look in one place, it loses all meaning. »