It Ends With Fox
Digging out all that stuff buried in my brainArchive for March, 2016
My Shrine
I must have looked at the clock every 15 seconds.
“C’mon, hurry up, it’s time to go.”
In the background there was some distant noise from the Professor at the centre of the class. Don’t ask me who it was or the topic.
“C’mon, hurry up, it’s time to go.”
I can’t imagine how much I must have been fidgeting. One knee bobbing up and down like my ankle was glued to a spring
“That’s it, I can’t take it, I gotta get out of here.”
And that’s what I did at the next class break. Hightailed it outta there, with Usian Bolt-like speed.
It was March 11th, 1996 and I was doing my MBA in London, Ontario, the day they closed the Montreal Forum. I needed to catch a plane at any cost. I had a game to catch that night and there was no way I was missing it.
I would be lying if I said I remember every detail because I don’t. At the office these days if someone starts a conversation with “Do you happen to remember..” I usually cut them off with a quick “No.” But I do have some vivid memories. I remember going to the Ritz and meeting up with friends to go to the game. When they put Roger Doucet on video to sing the National Anthem, I was euphoric. It just made perfect sense. I don’t recall much of the game – it was an afterthought on this night – but I do know that with the Habs winning 4-1, former Habs captain Guy Carbonneau had an opportunity to score the last goal at the Forum. Late in the 3rd period, Habs up 4-1, and Carbo is stoned by Jocelyn Thibault’s pad. I think outside of Guy LaFleur’s return to the Forum with the Rangers, it’s the only time I rooted for a a visiting player to score. Instead, we are stuck with Andrei Kovalenko as the last goal scorer at the Fabled Montreal Forum. I don’t have a metaphor or simile to describe that injustice.
The post game activities were the highlight of the night and up to the usual standard the Canadiens have established when it comes to ceremonies. The highlights were the Rocket ovation and “Carbo” surprising the crowd in a Habs jersey to take the Torch. I was a big Carbo fan. It was the “game of games” just because of the ceremony and I’m glad I paid a “ticket entrepreneur” to make sure I was in the building. I still have my ticket stub from the night.
Thing is, I’m not unique. For many, if not all, of those in attendance that night, it’s likely one of their fondest memories. As for me? As a typical boy growing up in Montreal, hockey and the Habs meant everything. Going out had to wait until the game was over. Girls? Not important. Even if one would have thrown themselves at me, which sadly didn’t ever happen, I likely would have stepped over them. I may have politely said “Excuse me, I got a Habs game to watch” or “Sorry, I’m off to the rink.” And while this seems boring, its really all I knew at the time and I loved it. The crazy thing? While no one was as extreme as me, who could be, I had friends who were almost as fanatical. Springtime meant playoff time and we all hunkered down together for each game. The memories are still strong. And that is what made the night of March 11, 1996 that much more special. The Habs, to my wife’s chagrin, are part of my DNA and at the centre of the Habs are all those years they played at the Forum.
It’s hard to believe that its been twenty years since they closed My Shrine. It’s hard to believe I am twenty years older despite what the mirror and my body keep trying to tell me. See, I still have the same passion for the Habs as that young adult that flew home 20 years ago to catch that special night. And while so much has happened since then, in some ways, it still feels like last night, and always will.
It Ends With Fox 