Post by Montreal Canadiens on Nov 27, 2022 20:27:37 GMT -6
Special Western Road Trip
The Montreal Canadiens are coming off back to back 3-1 wins over Columbus and Chicago and now head out west on a 4-game road trip after playing San Jose at home on Tuesday. While this trip will provide a good indication of how the Canadiens stack up against Pacific Division and how far along this seasons progress has come it means a little more to a few guys on the team.
Being in the Atlantic Division means you only travel to the West NHL cities once a year. For Brett Kulak (Edmonton) and Austin Wagner (Calgary) it means the only time they travel to Alberta and can play in front of family where they grew up. While both admit it’s a little hard on the pocketbook buying tickets for family and friends, both admit they wouldn’t have it any other way. While Kulak has been in all 21 games so far for the Habs leading the team in plus/minus Wagner has been a healthy scratch a few times. When we asked coach Luke Richardson about it he said Wagner definitely will have the opportunity to play in front of his friends and family in Calgary.
After the swing through Alberta the Canadiens will find themselves on the doorstep of the Vancouver Canucks. Devon Toews was born in Abbotsford, BC about an hour away. Riley Nash was born in Alberta but moved too Kamloops and grew up there. Riley said he hoped to hook up with some old friends while there but playing back-to-back and having to be in Seattle the next night might limit that.
Toews said “Its just really special to go home and play in front of the people who helped you get to where you are today. I owe a lot to all of them! I think when you step out on the ice it just puts an extra jump in your step knowing family, friends, old teammates, and coaches are there cheering you on!”
The final member of Habs who is looking forward to trip out west is Carey Price. We all know his amazing story of how he had to travel 10 hours round trip 3 days a week just to play organized hockey. How his mother is chief of Ulkatcho First Nation and how very proud of his Aboriginal Heritage he is. Carey purchased 500 tickets for Aboriginal Youth and paid for them and a family member to attend the game in Vancouver. Luke Richardson says Price will start that game, the front half of a back-to-back. With Montreal carrying 3 goalies Carey will stay in British Columbia while the team heads to Seattle and do some charity work within the Aboriginal Community and then meet the team back in Montreal to play Los Angeles 4 days later.
“Carey came to me and said we had a unique situation where we play back-to-back in Vancouver and Seattle and then have 3 days off before playing our next game. He wanted to give back to the community and the schedule allowed him to do it in season which is usually never possible. He wanted to help a couple Aboriginal Communities during their hockey season. I ran it by the brass, and they thought it was a fantastic idea. Having 3 goalies travelling with the team made it an easy do,” said Richardson
So, while this is an important road swing for a team in the playoff hunt, this trip for some just means a little bit more important than just winning or losing a game!
The Montreal Canadiens are coming off back to back 3-1 wins over Columbus and Chicago and now head out west on a 4-game road trip after playing San Jose at home on Tuesday. While this trip will provide a good indication of how the Canadiens stack up against Pacific Division and how far along this seasons progress has come it means a little more to a few guys on the team.
Being in the Atlantic Division means you only travel to the West NHL cities once a year. For Brett Kulak (Edmonton) and Austin Wagner (Calgary) it means the only time they travel to Alberta and can play in front of family where they grew up. While both admit it’s a little hard on the pocketbook buying tickets for family and friends, both admit they wouldn’t have it any other way. While Kulak has been in all 21 games so far for the Habs leading the team in plus/minus Wagner has been a healthy scratch a few times. When we asked coach Luke Richardson about it he said Wagner definitely will have the opportunity to play in front of his friends and family in Calgary.
After the swing through Alberta the Canadiens will find themselves on the doorstep of the Vancouver Canucks. Devon Toews was born in Abbotsford, BC about an hour away. Riley Nash was born in Alberta but moved too Kamloops and grew up there. Riley said he hoped to hook up with some old friends while there but playing back-to-back and having to be in Seattle the next night might limit that.
Toews said “Its just really special to go home and play in front of the people who helped you get to where you are today. I owe a lot to all of them! I think when you step out on the ice it just puts an extra jump in your step knowing family, friends, old teammates, and coaches are there cheering you on!”
The final member of Habs who is looking forward to trip out west is Carey Price. We all know his amazing story of how he had to travel 10 hours round trip 3 days a week just to play organized hockey. How his mother is chief of Ulkatcho First Nation and how very proud of his Aboriginal Heritage he is. Carey purchased 500 tickets for Aboriginal Youth and paid for them and a family member to attend the game in Vancouver. Luke Richardson says Price will start that game, the front half of a back-to-back. With Montreal carrying 3 goalies Carey will stay in British Columbia while the team heads to Seattle and do some charity work within the Aboriginal Community and then meet the team back in Montreal to play Los Angeles 4 days later.
“Carey came to me and said we had a unique situation where we play back-to-back in Vancouver and Seattle and then have 3 days off before playing our next game. He wanted to give back to the community and the schedule allowed him to do it in season which is usually never possible. He wanted to help a couple Aboriginal Communities during their hockey season. I ran it by the brass, and they thought it was a fantastic idea. Having 3 goalies travelling with the team made it an easy do,” said Richardson
So, while this is an important road swing for a team in the playoff hunt, this trip for some just means a little bit more important than just winning or losing a game!
