±«ÓãÖ±²¥ grads steal spotlight at Habs home opener
Ìý
(PHOTO OF MARTIN RAYMOND (left) AND GUY BOUCHER BY ANDREW DOBROWOLSKYJ)
Ìý
MONTREAL -- Tampa Bay coaches Guy Boucher and Martin Raymond, both ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ graduates, stole the spotlight at the Montreal Canadiens home opener at the Bell Centre, Wednesday. They guided the Lightning to a 4-3 come-from-behind win in overtime.
Trailing 3-2 with less than two minutes to play, Tampa Bay roared back to tie the game at 3-3 on a goal by Steven Stamkos at 18:41. Ryan Malone then tallied the game-winner at 4:09 of overtime
Boucher, the head coach who played for the ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ Redmen from 1991 to 1995 wasn't wearing his ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ tie. Raymond, who played for ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ from 1987 to 1992, then coached the Redmen for 15 years, was wearing his favourite cravate.
"I knew Marty was going to be wearing his red tie, so i decided to save mine for when we go up against Detroit and (±«ÓãÖ±²¥ grad) Mike Babcock," said Boucher, half-joking and half-serious.
"I could lie to you, but I have to admit it's pretty special," said Boucher, who was raised in the Montreal suburb of Roxboro and played his minor hockey in the city. "This is a team I watched my whole life, this is my home. I can't pretend like it's not special, because it was."
The post-game lineup to chat with Guy Boucher [BA '95, BSc (AgrEng), '96] and Martin Raymond (BEd '90, MEd '96) featured one of the largest gathering of Redmen alumni outside of a Homecoming event. Among those crowded around was Jean Pronovost, the former NHL star and Redmen coach who gave Boucher his first opportunity to coach in the QMJHL.
Other former Redmen on hand included Friends of ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ Hockey president Mike Nelson, Dr. Jay McMullan, Dave Gourde, Dr. Skip Kerner, David Grenier, Alain Cusson, Matt Humes, Mathieu Boisvert, Ben Vadnais, Chris Churchill-Smith and Teddy Kyres, plus current Habs player Mathieu Darche and Habs staffer Ken Morin.
Ìý
SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
±«ÓãÖ±²¥ Athletics & Recreation
514-398-7012
earl.zukerman [at] mcgill.ca