Montreal Forum

Royal West Academy
Montreal, Quebec

By Noah (Grade )

The Montreal Forum which had been home to the great Montreal Canadiens played host to it's last hockey game on March 11th, 1996. I was fortunate enough to attend this historic event, and I would now like to tell you a little about my experience.

The game was to start at 7:30pm, but I arrived at the Forum at around 4pm just so I could appreciate every second of the night. I waited outside the door on DeMaisonneuve so that I could get some pictures of all the players going into the Forum for the last time. At around 6pm you could really feel the electricity in the air. The doors opened at 6:30pm.

The game itself wasn't that impressive, but the post-game ceremony was an event I am sure I will never forget. The first person to come out was Dick Irvin, long time play-by-play man for the Canadiens. As soon as he began to talk, the crowd went nuts. Everyone there, French and English, realised that this evening was going to be something special. One by one Canadiens players were introduced, from LaFleur to Shutt, from Savard to LaPointe, from Beliveau to Lemaire. But without a doubt, the most amazing event of the night was when "The Rocket", Maurice Richard, was introduced to the crowd. He received an amazing 12 minute standing ovation. The Rocket couldn't hold back his emotions, he began to cry openly. There were hardly any dry eyes left in the "shrine" which was, and forever will be, the Montreal Forum.

It is unfortunate that only now, some 7 months after that incredible night, I realise how lucky I was to attend the last game at the Montreal Forum. I hope after reading this you have some idea of what it was like to be there.

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