Our unique Montreal Canadiens series “Meet A Habs Fan” takes a sharp turn and we now present to you the talent behind A Winning Habit! Meet our talented contributor, John Wiens.
Where are you from?
I live in Piedmont, Qc, but I was born in Manitoba and lived there thru my first college degree.
How did you become a fan?
I moved to Montreal in 1996, and the Canadiens were heavily covered. I had never seen writing as good as Red Fisher’s in a sports article, or such wall to wall coverage. Fisher had such terrific knowledge and perspective. I’ll never forget his “show me the players” article the first year he thought the team was legitimately bad. I think its fair to say that I became a fan of his first, and then the Habs later. It didn’t take long. I read him every day, and it was just a matter of time. Sometime in the spring of 1996 I was a full on fan.
Your favorite Habs player?
That I saw play?
Kovalev. First and only time I’ve seen a hockey stick dance so nimbly, and the last top player we had with true panache. All those times he made a fool out of someone and scored a big goal, or spun someone with a deke, or lost his helmet and played better. The Tucker hit. The breakaway in the all star game where he moved his shoulders first and lost Giguere… Unreal.
That I met?
Béliveau. I’ve met some of the legends, but Le Gros Bill was the most engaging. He held a 10 minute conversation with me about his life and the lessons he had learned at Ted Blackman’s funeral. He got personal really fast. Talked about his health troubles. Asked me about my own struggles. Direct and earnest. Looking to help.
There were so many people there who he clearly knew and would likely have wanted a word with him, but there he was on a sidewalk on Sherbrooke St in a friendly conversation with a 25 year old nobody he just met. I wanted to shake his hand. He offered me so much more.
Favorite Canadiens moment?
I was in the building for the comeback against the Rangers. I was there with my wife, and it was 5 –0 when Ryder potted two quick ones in the second. Those goals were hardly greeted with great enthusiasm. Most of us were grumpy at what we thought was a game lost long ago. That said, I don’t recall the Rangers outplaying the Habs by much, just outscoring them.
Then in the third, the Canadiens came to life. Kovalev and Streit scored 9 seconds apart and the place went nuts. It went from cool and casual to foaming at the mouth in a moment. It was the loudest thing I’d heard (other than Metallica) and when Kovy scored again with 5 minutes to go the roof nearly caved in. It was a thrilling and ear-splitting, a nearly primal yell. When Koivu sealed the deal in the shootout…
Bonkers. I’m surprised we didn’t start a riot.
There was never a question I was a Habs fan for life by then, but I walked home (I lived kitty corner to the Bell Center on St. Antoine then) asking myself if it as like that every night in the 70s. What emotional investment.
Bonus memory : I loved watching the crestfallen Leaf fans leaving the Bell Center after they missed the playoffs after Kovy hit Tucker. THE BEST.
In your opinion, does the future look bright for the Canadiens?
Yes, but how bright? In 2026 I can see the team competing for a Stanley Cup if they can develop their existing high quality players. Suzuki will be 27, Caufield will be 25, but Anderson will be 32. The new D corps will be 23 – 25 years old. They will have experience and a feared leader in Romanov, and a great all round defenseman in Guhle. Is it enough?
So much of it depends on how Shane Wright, Riley Kidney, Joshua Roy, and Jan Mysak turn out, but that’s a strong group. Yes, I think the Habs just take Wright. He might be outpaced in the end by another of those players, but having two Nick Suzuki’s is better than one.
If you haven’t read this article by Arpon Basu I recommend it, and his articles in general. They are must read: check out his article On Shane Wright, a player he thinks fits what the Canadiens want to do. Great shot, ahead of the play mentally, strong defensively, good medium-sized body with few weaknesses.
There are adjustments that need to be made internally. The Habs have too many left D prospects, and are too thin on the right. In my opinion they need a player like Alex Tuch or Tom Wilson. The new management group has time, now that the fan base accepts there will be some losing before winning.
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