Downtown Montreal transformed into one big party after the Habs’ win
Habs #Habs
First the Habs won, then Montreal became a playground.
Fans outside the Bell Centre celebrating their team going to the Stanley Cup final for the first time since 1993 — on la Fête nationale of all days –— were quickly dispersed by Montreal police , who shot tear-gas canisters into the crowd.
Though fans appeared generally well-behaved — aside from the incessant lighting of fireworks between narrow buildings outside the arena and one guy who kept climbing a lamppost — police tweeted Thursday that projectiles had been thrown in their direction.
“Absolutely ridiculous, for no reason,” said Habs fan Max Debelle in response to the tear gas. “But you know, Habs clutched up, that’s all that matters. That’s all that matters.”
“The Habs played really well,” added Eddy Freytag. “I couldn’t really see much, I lost my voice as you can tell. … I wasn’t really there for most of it, I went around the corner, and I felt the tear gas in my eyes.”
A total of 15 people were arrested, with charges ranging from armed assault, assault and obstructing the work of a police officer, Montreal police Constable Julien Lévesque said Friday morning. Another 60 infractions were handed out for violating numerous city by-laws.
A game of cat and mouse between officers and celebrants ensued on various downtown streets. Fans who’d just wiped tear gas from their faces headed east down de la Gauchetière St. and took part in a makeshift parade, fist bumping people hanging out of car windows and poking their heads out of sunroofs. Amid the chaos, a man in a Habs jersey who was riding a hoverboard took it upon himself to direct traffic. It worked.
Celebrations continued on René-Lévesque Blvd., Ste-Catherine St. and other main arteries in the city, where amateur (or possibly professional?) acrobats stood atop street signs and sat on traffic lights, until police caught up and dispersed the crowds. Some people retaliated by throwing beer bottles and other objects at police cruisers.
Ahead of the game, Mayor Valérie Plante had asked Montrealers to celebrate the holiday and the prospective Habs win respectfully.
“On this national day for Quebecers, we have many reasons to celebrate,” she wrote. “And we really need it after the tough year we just went through.”
Some stores decided to board their windows up before the game began, including downtown locations of the SQDC and SAQ.
But most fans, like Alice Rock, were just there to have a good time. She said the Canadiens’ win made the long trip to the city worth it for her.
“We left on a whim from the Côte-Nord, we had a seven-hour drive to get here,” she said. “We’re going back tomorrow morning.”
“We’re tired but it doesn’t matter,” added her partner, Jean-François Vachon.
The couple said they’ll be back for the next games. They’re only going home because they have to work.
A few hours after the game ended, a battered police cruiser was being lifted onto a tow truck outside the arena.
Minutes later, a firework that seemed to come out of nowhere landed on another nearby cop car.
kthomas@postmedia.com
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