The shockwave over the death of Cowboys Fringants singer Karl Tremblay was felt all the way to the middle of the Bell Center rink, where the Canadian paid a touching tribute to one of his most loyal supporters before the game against the Golden Knights.
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• Also read: “When you were far away from Quebec, it brought you home” – David Savard on the music of the Cowboys Fringants
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As the first notes of “The Shooting Stars” rang out and thousands of cell phone lights illuminated the arena, Raphaël Harvey-Pinard walked to center ice to hang a vest in the name of the singer who had left too soon.
The Canadian forward, a big fan of the Cowboys Fringants, made sure to don the tri-color sweater before retiring.
Afterwards, the audience warmly cheered for the singer who received the game’s first star, while others in the choir sang the lyrics to this group’s flagship anthem.
Archive photo, QMI Agency
The Quebec players are sad
The death of Karl Tremblay also shocked the Quebec players of the Canadiens and the Golden Knights. Earlier in the day, his departure was a topic of discussion in the locker room.
“It’s music that everyone can identify with. On long bus rides when I was far away from Quebec, it brought me home. There were times when I was the only Quebecer on my team. Cowboys music was always part of my playlist. It felt good to come home and listen to their songs. It is a group that has left its mark in Quebec. I saw several of their concerts,” said David Savard.
The CH defender spoke from the bottom of his heart about the death of Karl Tremblay, who died of prostate cancer at the age of 47.
Savard was drafted by the Drakkar in 2007 and played only 35 games in Baie-Comeau. He was traded in his first season in the QMJHL and ended up in New Brunswick with the Moncton Wildcats.
After three seasons in Moncton, he played in Springfield, Columbus and Tampa. Between the ages of 17 and 30, he was in an English-speaking environment. Before returning to Montreal for the 2021-2022 season, the defender let himself be lulled by the voice of Cowboys singer Fringants to feel closer to Quebec.
“The Cowboys were part of my youth,” Savard said. The first concert I saw was in Saint-Liboire, in the small Martin-Bracteur Arena. I must have been 10 or 11 years old. I saw the group live at the Bell Centre, but also at the Quebec Festival this summer. It was such a sad moment. I will have incredible memories with this group. »
Quebec is in mourning
“It was a heavy blow, the whole of Quebec mourns him today. »
Nicolas Roy was still stowing away his equipment in the opposing team’s small dressing room when he said this sentence. Upon arriving at the Bell Center, Roy heard songs by the Cowboys Fringants.
“I’m from Amos and I had the opportunity to see them perform there,” the Golden Knights center said. They wandered all over Quebec. I always enjoyed listening to them. For me, cowboys music is my roots in Quebec and great nights out with friends. »
“He touched a lot of people
Samuel Montembeault and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard also often listened to cowboys music. “It’s coming to get you,” Montembeault said. I was in the car with my parents on Wednesday and we were coming back from the grocery store. They interrupted the radio broadcast to announce the news. It was really sad. »
“When I opened social media, it was everywhere. You noticed even more how much he touched many people. »
– With Simon Baillargeon