For Pierre Gervais, June 24, 2021 started like just about every other day.
Posted at 6:00 a.m.
The weather was fine on this national holiday, and Gervais, the legendary equipment manager of the Canadian, had chosen to go to the Bell Center aboard his “no roof” Jeep, to take advantage of the warm rays road. A decision he will regret a little later, at the end of the evening, but we will come back to it.
By laying the soles on the thick red carpet in the locker room, Gervais quickly understood that this June 24 was going to be different.
“Arriving and seeing the players, you could see that there was something in the air, he begins by telling the end of the line. There was a kind of excitement…”
And how ! That night, the Canadian would host the Vegas Golden Knights in game number six of the conference final. Another victory and the Canadian would finally be able to return to the grand final, a first since 1993.
After confinements, curfews and matches in front of no one, there was finally a little sun on Quebec on this Saint-Jean evening.
At the Bell Center, only 3,500 fans were going to be admitted, but they were going to sound like 20,000.
“I remember the players who went to see behind the curtain, in the corridor, before the start of the pre-match warm-up, adds Pierre Gervais. The matches in front of no one, they did not like that, and there, they were eager to see the number of supporters in the stands.
PHOTO CATHERINE LEFEBVRE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Pierre Gervais
That’s what comes to mind when I think back to Saint-Jean a year ago… It was a great adventure and we felt that all of Quebec was behind us. We felt Quebec vibrate… And that transported the players.
Pierre Gervais, equipment manager of the Canadiens
Because at this time in the calendar, some members of the Canadiens needed to be transported, literally.
“People can’t imagine what Shea Weber went through. He was injured everywhere and he ached everywhere. Before each game in the playoffs, it took him a long time to prepare just because he had to make sure he was well protected. He was always in the medical clinic…”
It is also the veteran defender who will cause the first explosion of joy in the Bell Center that evening by scoring the first goal of the game, in the first period. The Golden Knights went 1-1 and then Cole Caufield netted his club’s second midway through the second period… before the visitors quickly leveled in the third.
An extension was going to be necessary, but the Canadian was ready… especially Pierre Gervais!
“We had to prepare in the event of a victory, and before the start of the game, we had already presented the players with the scenario for the following days in the event of a victory… The league had informed us of all the details. We had already received the crests for the jerseys for the final, and we had to prepare each jersey according to the specifications of the players… We had also received our championship t-shirts to celebrate!
“It’s not just us; all the teams in the association finals must do that too, we didn’t invent anything. But it was still special to prepare as if we were going to the final… and then to go for real! »
By the way, the winning goal, Pierre Gervais remembers it very well.
SCREENSHOT FROM YOUTUBE
Phillip Danault’s pizza
“I was at the end of the bench and I saw it clearly… The pass [de Phillip Danault], Lehkonen’s shot next… In the locker room, we used to leave six or seven pizzas for the guys before the real meal, and I think Phil picked up a tip along the way before going to talk to the media. »
Which gave this memorable scene where Danault, triumphant pizza at his fingertips, launched his famous “Bonne Saint-Han!” to the camera.
Then the players took their time.
“Normally there is no alcohol in the locker room, but there the guys were all sitting on the floor with their beer, and the trophy [Clarence-Campbell] not far, concludes Pierre Gervais. I also remember some guys were completely exhausted, including Carey [Price]. He took a picture with me, and you can really see how gutted he is. »
PHOTO PROVIDED BY PIERRE GERVAIS
Pierre Gervais and Carey Price
Pierre Gervais then had to leave, like everyone else, around half past midnight, “with my Jeep, no roof, which isn’t ideal for going outside when the going gets tough! “.
But he did well, and he is not about to forget that evening, when Saint-Jean became “Saint-Han”, when an entire province vibrated to the rhythm of its hockey club. .