2nd HIO Habs Fan Summit Groundswell Gets The Ball Rolling

And what a ball it was the first time around!

As many readers here will recall, the Montreal Gazette sponsored Habs Inside Out fan site helped launch and promote a day for fans last season that went by the name HIO Habs Fan Summit. For the 40 or so Habs fans who took part in the day, it was a smashing good time that they will likely never forget. For a recap of last year's events, here is a link that will bring those unfamiliar with it up to date.

What I personally enjoyed best about the day, was how fans who latched onto the team after the 1986 or 1993 Cups mingled with folks like myself who caught the Habs virus with the 1970's dynasty or earlier 1960's and 1950's versions. In short, beyond basking in the glory of Habsland, the people, the fans, were the best part of the whole day. Many others have echoed those same sentiments.



You know those annual family reunion gatherings where you get reaquainted with a bunch of relatives you have little in common with? This is the opposite. Immediate strangers will feel like long lost friends 24 hours later. The day, oddly, has that effect on people.

Recently, some posters at HIO, including myself and regulars such as Ian Cobb, The Teacher, Yeats, DD, Chuck, Smart Dog, Grabbed The Cup and Connecticut Man1, began discussing what will be involved in this year's event. When it could happen? Who will be attending? What events could be planned for the day?

Especially important to the day, is which roles participants will take on to make the event run as smoothly as it did last year?

Jason Weiss, known as Jay In PA on the site, set the bar extremely high in co-ordinating many facets of this large undertaking last year. Jay had lots of solid help from friends at the site in many of the endeavors. He is passing the torch off this time, as committments have limited his participation to that of expert adviser. Presently, many are offering themselves up to fill his shoes and those of others who helped greatly.




In the last few days, there has been a groundswell of support to get the second Summit launched. The thinking is that once the 2008-09 schedule is released by the NHL in a matter of days, a Saturday night game in October or early November will be chosen. The reason for keeping the event early in the season is due to travel and weather concerns. Many attendees from the last Summit came from both coasts and down south in the states. In order to accomodate far away Habs fans, it is best to rule out the chances of inclement weather hampering their trip by choosing an early date.

As with the choosing of any date, it will unfortunately not be suitable for everyone that would wish to attend.

Until a game date is chosen, though, all plans are still in the formative stages.

The Habs Inside Out site, who were extremely pleased and proud of the reaction last year's event garnered, have yet to announce anything official in regards to their participation.




What has been discussed so far, has revolved around organizing ourselves and choosing which events to take part in. Ian Cobb, has stepped up to help co-ordinate the day's events, and has already gotten in contact with Rejean Houle, the president of the Canadiens oldtimers alumni, to see what can be offered to the group in terms of activities.

Connecticut Man1 has created a blog site where information and news will be shared, and Smart Dog and I may be assisting him with that end. Smart Dog, who will be coming in from Halifax, may also be helping set up accomodations for the out of towners. The site's link is here, in skeleton form for now. Please bookmark it you wish to keep track of things. There may also be a Facebook site that is kept private once things are up and running. This post at this site here will also have a sidebar link that will be accessible for updates whenever they come in.

Chuck, proudly hoisting a cup of Molson Ex below, has offered to help in the area of charities and fundraising. More on that in a bit.

HabsChick has offered to help co-ordinate events as well and may be helping out in the areas of tickets, tours, and hotels.

Many other fans at the site have offered their assistance as well. There has been no shortage of goodwill to make it happen.

At this stage, Mr Cobb is attempting to round everyone together to iron out the finer details of pulling this off. Ian prefers to conduct his business over the phone and will be scheduling a conference call with Jay Weiss shortly.

I have Ian's number to pass along, but I cannot publish it here. I can pass it along though. My e-mail at this site is realitycheck-time (AT) hotmail (DOT) com if you wish to get in touch.



Details on how everything is progressing will be updated here as often as is neccessary. Keep checking the sidebar.

If anyone is interested in helping out, attending, or has interesting ideas to share, I can be contacted via this blog's e-mail mentioned above.

Last October, the day's schedule began around noon when everybody met outside the Bell Centre. There were two guided Bell Centre tours that we received a great group rate on. I'm sure that will happen again. Those who've never taken one can see what it was all about at my blog link above. Speaking for myself, there is no way I wouldn't go on it again. There is just so much to see!

The Gazette then organized a group photo shot for the paper that is at the top of this post.



After the shoot, we all ate supper one block from the arena, before heading off to the game. After the game, most of us headed down to Hurley's pub for wobbly pops and munchies. The restaurant we chose last year might not have been prepared to handle a group our size. This time will be different and we might need a larger locale to suit our needs and give them time to get ready for a bunch of crazy, hungry Habs fans. One place mentioned for the meal was La Brasserie Brunoise, and it received some thumbs up support from posters. Other ideas are of course welcome.




One facet of last season's event that I missed out on was a donation to the Gainey Foundation. There was a jersey raffle with the proceeds going to the fund, that I thought was a very classy gesture. I thought that this was one thing we would not want to overlook this time around, and I starting thinking about some hockey memorabilia that I own that could go to that end.

I dropped this note off at HIO this afternoon, and it garnered a way more positive response than I imagined. Maybe it's because I am nuts, but I can't back out now. Here's what it involved:

"In regards to the Summit, I have an idea to raise some money for a donation to the Gainey Foundation. I have a collection of Wayne Gretzky cards - over 700 different ones from 1980 to 1995. There is no RC or second year, but I had the collection evaluated at about $2,200 about four years ago.

In my collection, there is the 50 cards Neilson cupcake set from 1982 in mint shape from an uncut sheet, and the 99 card set Upper Deck commemorative career retrospective that was put out in 1999. Also included is about 95% of his O-Pee-Chee cards. Other than cards, it includes Coke bottle cap liners, cereal box covers, and some limited edition stuff like the numbered 802 goal card. I spent a wack of money collecting it and I understand that I will never get a return value on it.

If it were to go to a good cause, I would be very happy about that, but I'd like to get something in return for it, say a couple of hundred bucks at the very least. I can understand that some might not agree that I profit from the raffle itself, but I did spend a decade collecting it. Maybe someone has ideas that could make all this work in a good way.

I think that if we were able to sell 50 or 60 tickets at ten bucks a crack we'd raise a nice little sum for the Gainey Foundation. The collection really is something to see. I'd imagine that whoever won it, could give it as a Christmas present to a young one and they would be blown away.

Let me know what you all think, pro and con, and we'll figure something out and make a good thing happen."

Soon after posting this, I received several thumbs ups for the idea, with others chipping in with other raffle ideas. I think making a donation to Gainey's fund is very appropriate. I'm a big believer in giving back.

One poster made some mention that a group raffle could involve a prize for all participants. That could be accomplished easily enough by having more fans add some Montreal Canadiens items into the raffle. To that end, if there is a way for Mr. Houle to get my 26 Guy Lafleur cards signed, I'll add them into the pot as well. Sorry, though, the RC Guy signed personally to me a decade ago is not up for grabs! Anyone is welcome to toss in a Habs related article of their choice to enable this idea to happen. No one is obliged to feel as though they have to, either. I just think it would be fun stuff if everybody got something out of this! No Habs fans shouldn't be a winner, right?

If anyone's isn't an active participant in the HIO chatter, don't let it disuade you from getting in on the day. You'll be amongst friends real fast as everyone there is as fanatical about the team as you surely are. Everyone's welcome and the more the merrier!

That's all for now Habs fans.

Keep checking back as this year's event rounds into shape.

Below are some select shots of the Gretzky collection being donated to the raffle.

The Habs Fan Summit: Bulldogs Style

Retro Mikey, as he is known in Habs Inside/Out circles, is organizing a Habs Fans Summit for Friday April 11 in Hamilton, where the Bulldogs will be facing the Toronto Marlies that evening.

It's a great opportunity for some of the millions of Habs fans on Maple Leafs turf, and others, to get out get together with similarly intelligent and good looking people who share in the taste for quality hockey wherever it is played.

Mikey has made contact with the Bulldogs operations and is about to secure a number of seats depending upon the demand. Things are just getting started, and I have offered the services of this site as an information central, of sorts.

Several people have already gotten on board for the idea, and suggestions of restaurants and clubs are being tossed around for before and after game activities. Motels are being looked into as well.
Ian Cobb and Chuck, from the first Habs Fans Summit are said to be going, and soon others will follow as they are curiously following the unravelling of the details.

Today at the Habs Inside Out site that launched and pulled off the very successful first Habs Inside/Out Fan Summit I in October, Gazette journalist Dave Stubbs had this to add:

"This is terrific news. I spoke this week with Dave Robinson, a front office guy with the Bulldogs, who contacted me to discuss the idea. He has ambitious plans for the event. I told him of the success of the first (annual?) Habs Inside/Out Fan Summit, and he's tapping into the expertise of our friend Yeats and others from the Montreal organizing committee to see how it was pulled together.

Who knows who might wander down to Steeltown from Montreal for the 'Dogs summit?
Depends on where the Canadiens might be, as that will be the first weekend of the NHL playoffs, but anything is possible at this point."

Retro Mikey e-mailed me earlier today asking for some help with the enormous undertaking that such an event incurs. If there is anyone out there who resides in the Hamilton region and is interested in attending the event and can help Mike with their organizational skills, you can e-mail him at Canadiens.

Mikey added in his e-mail to me, that April 11th is Customer Appreciation Night in Hamilton and that his contact within the Bulldogs organization has promised good seats. While nothing is yet carved in stone, Mike's contact has discussed the possibility that there could be meet and greets with players and Bulldogs brass. He has also told Mikey that he has spoken with Dave Stubbs and with Rejean Houle, who is in charge of the Montreal Canadiens Oldtimers Alumni.

There could be something special cooking for this event, and I'll be doing my utmost to keep everything, and everyone, posted on the latest news here.

Anyone with inquiries or anything to add to this growing event can also e-mail me at realitycheck-time@hotmail.com, which is this site's address. I'll pass along whatever news there is to readers on a daily basis.

I will also be placing a permanent sidebar link at this site, just beneath the Google ad in the top right hand corner for easy access to new updated information. Check back daily to keep on top of things. Shortly after, the comments sections will be open for participants who wish to communicate with each other. I will disabling the comment moderator I have set up so that people can converse without delay.

That's all I have for now. Keep checking back for updates.

If anyone is not familiar with what the Habs Inside/Out Fans Summit is all about, these three posts are a good place to start.

Read all about it and join the party. It will make the Drive For 25 all the more sweet.

Canadiens Squeak Out OT Win

I've lots to say on Saturday' s win over the flightless birds, without a cohesive thread of thought or storyline to follow. This game was very similar to Friday night's win over Carolina, so in the absence of having something new to say, I will just proceed in a Mike Boone style random notes manner.

And no, that's not a knock on Boone!

If you read yesterday's game rundown here, on the Canadiens need to learn how to deal with leads early in games, you can guess that I would simply apply and reiterate many of the same points for the Penguins game.

Against Pittsburgh, the Canadiens fresh off a 3 zip lead, attempted to put the shutdown mode into practice starting in the third period, once the score was 3-2 - twenty minutes too late! Applying a defensive blanket and dumping the puck at the right time with a one goal lead was a tenuous proposition, but the Habs executed it well, holding the Penguins to only three shots through the first 16 minutes of the third period.

It looked as if the Canadiens had learned something from the night before, albeit a period too late, and it was unfortunate that a pair of dumb penalties corroded a fine third period focus. I choose the word "dumb" over "indisciplined" because of the nature of the penalties. A too many men on the ice call should require referees to count to three before an arm is raised and the whistle's blown, especially when the errant players aren't involved in the thick of the play. Dumb also perfectly describes a slashing call when the stick of a player in possession of the puck, or about to receive a pass, is slashed.

Is it just me or do the Canadiens / Penguins games lack a little spark without Maxim Lapierre. This game was without it's usual Ruutuu, Roberts, Armstrong, or Orpik incidents as well. The Kovalev shoving of an off balance Malkin didn't deserve the ruckus it created. Unfortunately, it changed the tempo of the game for Montreal. Never kick a sleeping dog.



Nothing to do with this game, but few things anger me as much as that shooting the puck over the glass, delay of game call. Calling the penalty is what delays the game most. Penalize the faulting team by disallowing a line change on the ensuing faceoff, as they do with icing. Misjudging the height of the glass should not be confused with a foul.

On brighter notes, has anyone noticed the Canadiens are undefeated since the Habs Fans Summit last Saturday? Were all of us that much of a good luck charm or did leaving behind my Rocket 500 sign at the Bell stir up old friendly ghosts?

Carey Price was phenominal in the shootout, stopping three of eight shots. He played his position so well, making himself big and square enough that five shooters shot wide. The shooters he offered little room to were no slouches - Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Sykora.

Who would have though the Canadiens would end up in a shootout eigth rounds deep with Andrei Markov netting the winner?

Next time the Habs play, watch this! Michael Ryder's calling card is his sniper - like wristers, and I noticed something about his mobility the last few games. Have you ever noticed Ryder is a triffle stiff in stickhandling or checking opponants going by him? For three games now, since Monday's tilt with the Bruins, I have been watching and waiting for Ryder to remove one hand from his stick, with or without the puck, and try a move unfamiliar to opponants. Ryder always has two hands on his stick, and it limits his effectiveness. That would explain why he appears so stiff out there. He reminds me of players on my daughter's team, who have yet to learn how to widen themselves defensively by using an open stick stance to appear larger and block passing lanes. Even when he switches to the backhand, in shooting or in defying a defender, the hands don't move off the shaft.

I notice that very few people still question the reasons behind singing Tom Kostopoulos and moving Mathieu Dandeneault up to wing. I gather that speaks for their work ethic and results.

Andrei Kostitsyn played a solid, if unspectacular, game against the Pens. He seemed a little more willing to pay to the price in the thick of traffic, and I liked that he tussled some with Crosby when he went after Kovalev.

Speaking of Kovy, he had a brutal second period playing like a player whose contract has bonus clauses for points. Of course, that's not the case, and he smartened up in the third, unloading the puck down ice instead of craddling it when confronted.



What would the San Jose Sharks give the Habs for returning Josh Gorges to them? Throw in Halak and give us back Rivet?

I am surprised by Kyle Chipchura, good as I heard he was, I was never expecting to find him so mature so soon.

The Penguins Dan Sabourin impresses me more than Fleury ever did.

Why was Sergei Gonchar allowed to participate in the shootout? Hadn't he been penalized in the final seconds of OT play, thus barring him from participation in the shootout? I was sure this was a rule!

I've never been a big fan of games on back to back nights, and there is an inherant unfairness in how they are scheduled. The league's board of governers should rule that every team partake in the same number of back to back contests. Teams should only play their second games against teams in the same situation. No team should have to play two consecutive nights on the road.

The NHL would like you to believe that all things fair out in the end. They would also like to sell you those flimsey Reebok jerseys at double the price and half the quality of the better looking ones we've all come to know and love.

That's all for now - back to work on goalie posts!

Habs Fans Summit A Rousing Success

The Canadiens didn't need the 4 - 2 win over Buffalo tonight in order to make the Habs Fans Summit a rousing success - however, it was the proverbial icing on the cake.

Damn, did we all have a good time!

Super sized kudos to Jason Weiss (Jay in PA) for spearheading an evening that will long be remembered by all of those who took part in the days activities. I'm sure that I speak for everyone in saying that this man is a class act for endeavoring to take on the task of coordinating much of what went on.

Jay, who lives in Pittsburgh, had lots of long distance help from J.T., Naila, Jim M, Sami, Kullkullan and Manapart in setting things up from ticket orders to the final gathering at Hurley's Pub. I hope that my documenting of the day does their hard work justice.

I personally had a blast meeting up with everyone. It is 4 AM after the game, as I begin to post this, having just arrived home and editing roughly 70 photographs taken during the day.
Remembering the names of everyone (after meeting close to 40 of you) gets a little hazy.
Posting this entry will have taken up my entire Sunday by the time it is finished.

I try not post long thoughts and ramblings at Habs Inside Out for the most part, I tend to merely weigh in on the subject at hand and offer my larger thoughts through a link for those curious enough to enjoy. I was extremely flattered and taken aback by the number of people who shook my hand this evening and complimented me on this site.

It was so gratifying for me to associate faces with names and see in person those for whom I write for. A simple thank you cannot estimate the warmth each of you have given me with your kind words.

Throughout the day and the evening, I felt friendships and kinships being born, and I will truly miss a bunch of you until we do this all again.

The icing on my cake was rubbing elbows with Dave Stubbs, Mike Boone, Kevin Mio and Pat Hickey. To hear Mr. Stubbs laud my site to me, is a moment I would love to freeze in time. Habs Inside Out is Dave's baby, and it warmed me to see him looking at the gathering so proudly. The evening was his community coming to fruition. Dave's creation and hard work resulted in an evening such as this, and it is a credit to the man's imagination and positiveness of spirit that he jumped on the idea of a Habs Fans Summit within hours of it being suggested. Thanks so much for running with it, Mr. Stubbs!



We all owe Mr. Stubbs a great debt of gratitude for getting behind what I am certain will grow to become a regular annual event amongst Habs die hards. Our appreciation should also extend to the Montreal Gazette itself, who sprung for some nifty red t-shirts and placcards noting the event for all 48 participants.

During the game, the paper's photographer stood over us on the press gallery and encouraged us to salute. I think this was where we were supposed to display our placcard salutations, but I'm guessing we were so deep into the third period drama, that we all missed our cue. We'll get it right next time!

As good as the game was, the company surrounding us all made the day's events even better. I tremendously enjoyed sharing thoughts and exchanges with everyone I met, talking about the Habs today and yesteryear.

It's so great to be proud of our team! As you can tell, it extends to us being proud of ourserlves as fans.

The afternoon began with a tour of the inner works of the Bell Centre. In no particular order, we got to visit the press gallery hung high above the ice, the oldtimers room, the media room, historic displays involving Habs Hall of Famers, and lots and lots of Canadiens memorabilia on the walls everywhere you looked. For six dollars, the tour is a bargain. Unfortunately, we didn't quite make it all the way into the players dressing room. Of course, that would have been ecstasy.

At 3:45 the group gathered for a photo on the east side of the Bell Centre. The Gazette photographer took dozens of shots trying to get us all to stay in pose after placing everyone. It got funny when passersby in behind the group were interfering with the shoot, unbeknowst to them. We needed to get Stubbs, Mio and Boone to play traffic cop just to get the final shots done.
Patrice Brisebois was one of those was passed by, signing for fans along the way. I thought it pretty cool of him to walk into the Bell right off the street and it surely speaks of how he feels being back in Montreal.

I wonder if Ian Cobb's knees have recovered from the praying position he assumed for a good 20 minutes during the shoot.

Before and after game meet and greets at Baton Rouge and Hurley's Pogo room were one of the more special parts of the day. You gotta love 3 A.M. last calls! Next time, I'll wisen up and rent a room in the downtown area, as to not have to make midnight my personal last call.

I hope I do not forget anyone in naming those who helped make my day an unforgettable experience.

Nowhere better to start than with my fellow blogger and good friend E, from the Theory Of Ice site. I have had the privelege to chat with E for two or three times a week for the past three months, and it has been a treat. Getting to finally meet her, never mind enjoying a meal and a gameside seat next to her, was a fullfilling experience. That alone, made my day!

You want to talk about an intelligent and perceptive young lady. This girl might be new to the game of hockey, but you'd never know it from her astute study of everything that happens on the ice. Be jealous all of you who did not get to enjoy her charming company, E, you see, is not one to seek attention very much. It's been an eternity since a young woman made me truly wish I was 20 years younger. As pretty and magnetic as I found her, I did get my heart broken. We lost each other on the escalators and stairways of the Bell Centre on our way out. I feel as though i have something to make up for!

No one seemed happier to be a part of the Summit than Ian Cobb. I quickly got the notion that Ian grins and laughs in his sleep. He had a bunch of great tales to tell and I wish he could be one of the elders that I enjoy coffee with each morning. My friend, you are one of the reasons I hope that this Summit occurs again.

Lee Hayes came further than anyone to be a part of this - all the way from British Columbia! If anyone in this party was a bigger Habs fan than Lee, I'd dare you to prove it. Lee was as instantly likeable as anyone I've ever met, and he greeted everyone as long lost friends. He sat a row below me during the game and I watched him enjoy this win as much as any fan can. He was one of many gentleman I met tonight that made me wish that the whole day could last forever. Should the Habs meet the Canucks in the Stanley Cup final, Lee's home will be a haven for inflatable mattresses. It was a priveledge to meet you, Lee.

DD, who lives in the Ottawa area, was the fan who best epitomized the Habs spirit. I tell you, if DD had any more cheer he would be Santa Claus. I think DD went out of his way to meet and great everyone, sharing words and stories that put smiles on everyone's faces. He and Lee took in the Senators and Habs game on Thursday, and showed up for this one wearing those hilariously mocking anti Leafs duds. DD lives within an hour of me and I'm smiling as a type this, just knowing that we will soon meet again.

Grabbed The Cup (GTC), whose real name is Herb, has a great memory for Habs history. Through supper at Baton Rouge, and then later at Hurley's, we expounded on a variety of subjects. Thinking about him, makes me realize how short the evening actually was. This man is someone with whom I could discuss the Habs with, day in and day out, and never tire of conversation subjects. His compliments to me, regarding this site, are words that will remain with me for a long time. If I were a TV producer, casting a between periods segment with a Habs fan, Herb's animated and passionate thoughts would qualify him as the ideal guest. I believe Herb and I will cross paths again - and I can't wait!

Everyone at Habs Inside Out has read Yeats' charisma filled comments. Witty and quick, with a seductive accent to boot, this man is a conversation that should never end. When we shook hands and introduced ourselves at the ticket booth, I had the instant incling of who he was even before he pronounced his name. On hockey matters, I must say that the man thinks an awful lot like me on the Habs current state of affairs. Yeats and and I started a conversation that should one day finish with us both agreeing on what were the key moves that enabled the Canadiens to win their 25th Stanley Cup.

I got to meet J.T. (Leigh Anne) and her husband after the game and complemented her on successfully answering my Habs 100 trivia question contest. After she told us that her initials actually stood for Jose Theodore, we all had a good laugh thinking about our former beloved number one goalie, and how quickly time flies.

Alex Leduc wore a commemorative Maurice Richard jersey #9 to the game and we wanted to set up a picture featuring his sweater and my postcard. I apologize for it not happening. Blame it on the evening being a whirlwind of activity.

Dan and his young son Omar didn't take in the game at the Bell but joined the crew for the Gazette photo shoot and pre-game meal. One very sweet moment was when Dave Stubbs sat Omar aside and went through a Habs magazine with him, surely offering some historical pointers.

Chuck from Toronto with his retro Mark Hunter jersey received many compliments and thumbs up on his choice of apparel for the evening. He even had one fan offer his big bucks for it.

The beautiful Naila was the events official photographer for the day and helped to set up the Bell center tour to start the good time off. I can't wait to see her photos posted.

Plek-Andrew and three friends painted themselves up from faces to navels and deserved their own RDS moment on the big screen.

Nightmare 49 showed up at Hurley's and weighed in on the future of the Habs with Yeats, myself and a few others. Hearing Yeats liken the Habs method of cycling the puck to masturbation was to almost die of laughter. I'll say it again, the man deserves his own blog!

Lastly, and most definately not least, I must thank my great friend and good buddy Shawn Lauzon. Shawn has been urging me to go see a Habs game for the entire summer and when the opportunity arose to get in on the Habs Fans Summit it was a chance neither of us could miss out on. It has been about 7 years since Shawn and I took in a 3 - 0 win over the Islanders, a day marked more in our memories by a blown engine on the Dicaire Expressway than the game itself. This awesome time we shared will be done again, and hopefully it does not take another seven years. Thanks, my friend!

There were at least two dozen fans that I did not get to spend any time with. While many of you may be featured in pictures shown here, I apologize for not making the rounds as much as I would have liked to. Time simply didn't allow for us all to get together and chat. This is but one more reason for us all to do this again sooner than later.

Two aquaintances who didn't make the trip were Matt Macaskill and Peter Young. I was looking forward to meeting both and I'm hoping that when this is done again you boys get to take it all in.

The shot at the top of this post happened at around 6 PM on Saturday night. I couldn't believe my eyes when I walked out onto the Baton's patio for a smoke and saw a rainbow ending at the Bell - talk about your positive signs!

Enjoy the pictures, folks, and thank you all again for a memorable event.

In chronological order, these were the moments I captured on the first annual Habs Inside Out Habs Fans Summit.

Starting with the tour of the Bell Centre.

There's not a better place to start for me than with Edouard "Newsy" Lalonde, the Habs first star, born in my hometown of Cornwall, Ontario. Newsy's great, great, grand daughter was a summer waitress at my favorite coffee shop, the Fifth Wheel.

A tribute to the Canadiens Hall Of Famers.

Is there a Montreal Canadien who better exemplifies all the qualifies of being a Habs leader better than Jean Beliveau?

A longstanding Habs fan looking perfect in a retro jersey. Ian Cobb fits it to a T. I wouldn't be surprised if younger fans walked up to him, mistaking him for a Habs legend, and asked for an autograph.

DD and Lee epitomizing the spirit.

A view from the press gallery.

Naila, after I took a picture of her, taking a picture of me. That's Chantal, our tour guide, in the Komisarek jersey.

A job at this level would make my life!

To you from failing hands we throw the torch, be it yours to burn the Leafs!

This fan whose name escapes me ( I believe it was Dan, correct me if I am wrong), told me a great story when looking at this picture that includes Aurel Joliat. below. He recounted that he was once working in the apartment moving business, when he read the name Aurel Joliat on his list of the day`s clients. Upon meeting the Habs legend, he quite rightly got involved in discussing Habs heritage, before Joliat`s wife came along, berating for wasting time. That story is just too funny and deserves it's own blog posting. Please share all that you can remember of that day, my friend.

A legendary shot from the Habs alumni room.

Plek-Andrew and Ian share a tale.

Me, in front of an incredulous backdrop I never imagined myself in front of. This, as you will see, was something everyone wanted to get in on.

Two opposing logo's - too funny!

Ian Cobb raises the Stanley Cup, in his imagination!

Plek-Andrew had everyone in stitches when he sat behind the mic and gave his impression of a mock Habs after loss interview. "Ecoute, on a pas jouez soixante minutes...." You had to be there, it was priceless!

Of course Ian could not resist the chance to have his picture taken with the charming Naila. Can't say I blame the man!

Plek-Andrew and his pals cover the couch in the Habs wives and guests room. Does this boy know how to take full advantage of a photo op or what?

Just outside the Canadiens dressing room lies this inspirational wall. Naila not included!

Moving onto mealtime at Baton Rouge. I ordered Atlantic Salmon with veggies, and was greeted with a two fisted sized broccoli that will never allow me to see the sprout in the same light ever again! Hope your meal was more fulfilling. But, hey, the company was awesome.

Here are some shots from the game, interspersed with pics of various HIO folks and Habs fans from the game.

Moving on to Hurley's Pogo room for the after game celebration.

It was a fun time chatting with Mike Boone and Pat Hickey. Red Fisher, my idol, where are you?

J.T. is surely a fan who can go one on one with Boone. Wish I could have been privy to the Brisebois conversation!

Dee Dee and Vicky were kind enough to let me take a photo. I'll let you answer why these ladies stand out in a crowd.

I should almost apologize for taking as many pictures of Naila as possible - but I won't!

And that's all the alcohol this blogger could consume before heading off. I will miss you all until we meet again.