MONTREAL – Stephane Vallieres remembers going to the previous Montreal Discussion board at age 12 to look at the Canadiens play the Quebec Nordiques prefer it was yesterday.
On Tuesday evening, he was amongst about two dozen individuals within the cafeteria of the Outdated Brewery Mission homelessness useful resource centre, close to Montreal’s Chinatown, tuning in to look at Sport 4 of the Canadiens’ second-round playoff collection towards the Buffalo Sabres.
Some wore Habs jerseys and hats. Others wore crimson.
Vallieres stated recreation evening is greatest loved with a gaggle.
“The ambiance right here, the chemistry … we’re right here to have a superb time,” he stated. “We’re watching what everybody likes, and there’s no arguing.”
Montrealers have caught hockey fever, and residents of the Outdated Brewery Mission’s downtown shelter aren’t any totally different.
Whereas some watched from the cafeteria, others tuned in from the lounges on the higher flooring. Even these getting their hair minimize by barbers who drop in as soon as a month stored their eyes glued to the display screen as they bought their trim.
Vallieres is a lifelong Canadiens fan. His face lit up as he spoke concerning the group’s roster, saying he believes the group is nice sufficient to convey house the Stanley Cup this 12 months. The 57-year-old performed hockey on the bantam degree in his youth and stated he at all times donned a Habs jersey with the quantity 10, belonging to his idol Man Lafleur.
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Vallieres was evicted from his condo two years in the past and bought a room on the Mission in September as he waits to be authorised for town’s social housing program. He stated occasions just like the NHL playoffs get his thoughts off issues.
Vallieres sat along with his good friend Allen Hayward, one other diehard Canadiens fan who has been on the Mission for 4 years after shedding his job within the development sector in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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“It makes you briefly neglect that you simply’re right here, which is a beautiful factor proper there,” he stated of recreation nights.
“It could be extra enjoyable to look at it with these individuals, however at my condo.”
Because the Canadiens took the lead within the first interval, these gathered to look at the sport broke into chants of “Olé! Olé! Olé! Olé!” Even these not watching requested followers smoking outdoors in between durations concerning the recreation.
Yolette Jean is used to selecting up individuals who use the Mission’s drop-in centre — the place individuals can seize a espresso and meals or take a nap — and driving them to different assets across the metropolis.
On Tuesday, barely anybody bought in her shuttle, she stated.
“I got here to select individuals up at Café Mission, and so they stated, ‘Ma’am, no, no. Oh, we’re wonderful right here,’” Jean stated. “They stated they’re not ; they need to watch the sport.”
They requested her if she may convey again any donated Canadiens T-shirts or jerseys.
James Hughes, director of the Mission, stated the very first thing he heard when he walked in Tuesday morning was, “It’s going to be 4-2 tonight!”
“It’s all anybody’s speaking about,” he stated. “It brings the temper up. It may be darkish right here. These are people who find themselves remoted and struggling, individuals who have suffered monumental loss.”
However for a couple of hours, they share a standard expertise and love of the game — and perhaps even get to win, he provides.
The Outdated Brewery Mission isn’t the one place the place these experiencing homelessness can catch the sport.
The CAP St-Barnabé and the Welcome Corridor Mission run shelters, transitional housing models and emergency service centres throughout town. Each say residents like to arrange their very own viewing events within the frequent rooms.
“Hockey fever has actually taken maintain right here,” stated Michelle Patenaude, the pinnacle of CAP St-Barnabé.
Over on the Welcome Corridor Mission, residents are usually anticipated to be again of their rooms and studios by 10 p.m. Director and CEO Sam Watts stated recreation nights are an exception.
He stated curfew is prolonged to ensure these watching the sport within the lounges don’t miss a factor if the Canadiens go into additional time.
“Individuals who don’t have a everlasting deal with are probably much more passionate concerning the Habs than I’m,” stated Watts.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Could 13, 2026.
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