The Montreal Canadiens made their annual official visits to the Montreal Children’s, St. Justine and Shriners hospitals on Wednesday afternoon, a tradition that began over fifty years by the late and great Jean Beliveau. It is a day that hockey and the highs and lows of the season are put on the backburner as the focus shifts towards bringing a little cheer to those that could really use it.
Les gars sont arrivés au @HopitalChildren / The boys have arrived for their annual visit to @HopitalChildren pic.twitter.com/UNNeAOa59S
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) December 14, 2016
It can be argued that we as a society put professional athletes on a pedestal, one that they may not necessarily always deserve. That the idea of calling them heroes is to use the term loosely. In reality, these words are only semantics. It does not matter if a five year old or a fifty year old idolizes Carey Price or any other member of the Montreal Canadiens. All that matters is that the sport brings the fan joy. These hospital visits are just as important for the patients and their families as it is for the players. They know that they are as lucky as can be to be playing the game that they love for a living. And they know that as professional athletes they are tasked with being a role model, even if they never asked to be one. The players are used to spreading joy on the ice. By visiting children at the various hospitals, they are reminded how they are able to do so off of it. The power of simply walking into a patient’s room to help escape reality, even if it is for just a fleeting moment is enough to make a dark day that much brighter.
On partage la joie en ce temps des Fêtes! // Spreading some holiday cheer! #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/NhftYxm52g
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) December 14, 2016
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Since the Canadiens do not play until Friday night when they host the San Jose Sharks, the team held an optional on ice practice on Wednesday morning while the rest of the players took part in an off-ice workout.
Sur la glace / Habs on the ice:
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) December 14, 2016
Montoya, Danault, Carr, Radulov, Gallagher, McCarron, Mitchell Lehkonen, Flynn, Byron, Redmond, Beaulieu.
On Tuesday, the Canadiens had sent defenseman Mark Barberio and forward Sven Andrighetto back down to the St. John’s Ice Caps. While Andrighetto did play better in this latest stint with the club, the recently called up Michael McCarron is a better fit for the fourth line as he brings size, physicality and the versatility to play wing and center. Expect a forward and defenseman to be recalled from the Ice Caps by Friday as the Canadiens do not have any extra healthy bodies on the roster.
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In World Junior news, Noah Juulsen is the only Canadiens prospect to make Team Canada’s final roster as fellow defenseman Victor Mete was cut on Tuesday and goaltender Michael McNiven did not survive the final cuts on Wednesday. Mete, the Canadiens fourth round pick from the 2016 draft had been a surprise invite as he previously had not been on Hockey Canada’s radar. However, he is having an outstanding season with the London Knights outshining the fifth overall pick Olli Juolevi at times. If he were just a few inches taller than his listed 5’10… there would likely have been a better chance of him making the team. Mete though is just 18 years old and if he keeps up with his strong play, the likelihood is that he will be invited back next year to try again as by many accounts he had a very good camp.
The undrafted McNiven was another surprise invite and longshot to make the team. His stock has risen steadily ever since he first attended the Canadiens development camp in the Summer of 2015. Over the last few years, the goaltenders have usually been decided by the time of the December junior camp and only the selected two were invited. McNiven should be quite proud that his play forced the hand of Hockey Canada to extend him an invite. Unfortunately, a somewhat weak first outing against U Sports (formerly the CIS All-Stars) was enough for him to lose the job as backup to Carter Hart.
The final cut from the 2016 team, Juulsen will likely be counted to be on the top defensive pairing along with Thomas Chabot. He has bounced back from a mediocre season to already tie his career high in goals with nine in just 25 games compared nine in 68 games two seasons ago. He is the captain of the Everett Silvertips and his leadership is certainly one of his many attributes that should come in handy as Juulsen will be expected to stabilize the defense and play big minutes.
The Canadiens will return to practice on Thursday morning.
Cheers and follow along! Follow @Jenbcutler