I will never watch Hobey Baker glide up the wing like the god people likened him to. I will never see Frank McGee lead the Silver Seven to glory, never see Lester Patrick take his place in the net for the 1928 Rangers. I will never see the Maroons, the Tigers, the Bulldogs, the Thistles, the Americans, the Wanderers, or so many others lace up their skates like they did so many years ago. I will never experience the heyday of amateur hockey, the rover, Olympia, so many things I would see in my greatest dreams. I am a hockey lover that missed the greatest days of hockey, the pre-commercialized sporting wonder it produced.
But I will live my life knowing that I’ve seen the greatest hockey team ever to exist play. I have experienced the wonder of watching the proudest sporting entity in North America take the ice, and I have seen a team rally a city like no other team can claim. I have seen the Montreal Canadiens play, and through them I have seen the proud history of hockey live on today. I never saw Morenz, Richard, Plante, Beliveau, Harvey, Vezina, and so many others play but the spirit of their game lives on today. May the memory of the history of the Montreal Canadiens never be forgotten, may our last connection to early history of our beloved sport never die out.
From a die-hard Detroit Red Wings fan, I wish the Montreal Canadiens 100 more years of legend-making success, 24 more Stanley Cups, and many more heroes. Thank you for your contribution to hockey, to the glory and history of such an amazing sport. May your torch always be held high.
Here's to 100 more years.
