How would they "celebrate" a Cup?

Whats wrong with camera phones? thevye arrested alot of people wouldnt it be nice if they had some hard video evidence on them and could charge them, instead of sending them home the next morning.

Mr. Boone, With all due respect. Let us delete this blog post. Almost everyone on here has a bad taste in their mouth and frankly by posting about it, we are giving the hooligans what they want.. Publicity... I am not one to be political but I do not like when people put a nationality to a problem... It is not classy and makes the problem even worse. We have a great hockey team. We have great Montreal Canadiens fans. We have the best fans in the world. I truly believe that Montreal Canadiens fans are going to bounce back and make this city respectable again... This is my last post on the subject. Thank you and have a nice evening... Players win games, teams win championships. - Bill Taylor

I fully agree with your comments Mr. Boone. I am a die hard habs fan and I find this inexusable. I almost wish they didn't win. It puts a bad taste in my mouth and makes the city and their band wagon fans look ridiculous. This will even be further motivation for Free Agents not to sign with the Habs. Wow, what did they even win? Nothing, it's not even conference finals. This is just terrible

Don't know what to say chorske, like i said, i call em like i see them. I was out there the entire night, personally saw at least three cars set ablaze and dozens of bottles tossed... I talked to the guys who were doing it, asking them to stand down because they are embarassing out city, and all i got were answers in french and spanish (and nearly a fistful o' angry mob vengeance, might i add). As i said, and lets not forget i used to word "mostly", but the Crescent street riot was catalyzed by francophones and non-white non-anglophone thugs, it's the truth. When the Gazette says "Cops blame mayhem on minority, plan strategy against future incidents", they say it for a reason. These cops arent story telling, nor taking the easy route out, because that's exactly what happened. Packs of latinos and chinese guys and black guys and francophones running around using guerrila style tactics, running around crescent, comming through the parking lot that connects to bishop and throwing glass bottles. I know i sound like a complete bigot, and racist, but let me assure i am not. As a second generation immigrant, i don't see why i can't state the facts the way i see em without being called "don cherry #2" or "anti immigrant"... I got mashed around a few times last night and wasn't too happy about it... And i know exactly who it was the cops were chasing, and for what reasons. Why can't i let it be known? Am i saying no white anglophones caused any damage? Course not, was bound to happen, all sizes shapes and races have angry people... But the ones who the police were hunting, and rightly so, was the aformentionned populace who was responsible for brining it to the next level of violence...

According to the 'press' they taser you in Vancouver for not paying transit fares. Maybe, if the Habs finish the next series at home, Mr Gillette could fly in some Vancouver Transit cops as guests of the Habs.

Well, let's put it up in a readable way. I come from a country which has a huge problem with hooliganism at the stadiums. The main problem is, of course, soccer, but hockey isn't safe and sweet either. If you want a piece of advice - try to stop such things from happening as quickly as you can. In Poland: 1. People actually DIED in a riot after a soccer game. And it wasn't just one case. 2. After the championship parade two years ago, our capital's old town was demolished. 3. You can't see fans of the visiting team sitting next to the hometown guys. There is a special zone for them, fenced and called "a cage". They virtually sit there like animals in the zoo. If there's no cage at the stadium, no visiting fans are allowed. 4. "Normal" people are mostly afraid to go to a game. 5. Police coverage during a game gives a pretty good impression how a town under siege looks like. 6. People wearing colours of a team from other city are hunted by hooligans. Yes, hunted is a proper word. I was in Canada last autumn. I spent two fabulous weeks in Montreal and one in Ottawa. Watched four "live" games - Bruins@Habs (preseason), Hurricanes@Habs (home opener) and two games in Ottawa. I was impressed - the fans were so completely different from what I've seen at "home", it was like visiting an other planet. Say anything you want about Ottawa fans - I've been in their f-ing arena wearing a CANADIENS jersey and nobody touched me. Crikes, nobody yelled at me. They noticed, there were some laughs and that's it. That's the way it should be done. The most beautiful memory of my sports life is singing "Ole ole ole" with you, the Habs fans, in the corridors of Le Centre Bell. Now I see that some idiots (pretty big number of them actually) are bringing the Canadian way of supporting closer to the morons who turned sports into gutter in my country. As a Canadiens fan, I'm ashamed, I'm devastated and deeply saddened. And oh, believe me, comparing to what harm can actually be done, yesterday's night in Montreal was a walk in the park.

Look on the bright side - no one was beat half to death like in Boston.

Last night turned from a fun evening of street parties, to a scene from that new "godzilla" movie Cloverfield. I am so embarrassed that this is how we celebrate. I would like to think it wasn't Habs fans that were doing this, but who knows. All I know is that running home, covering my head out of fear of glass bottles raining down, windows being smashed, and cars being destroyed was not what I needed on a Monday night.

I don't think the drinking age is the problem here - alcohol doesn't turn nice people into a--holes - it just turns inhibited a--holes into uninhibited ones.... 1. www.flickeringpictures.com - not a hockey site, but still kinda neat 2. Josh Gorges on Montreal's attack: "They're comin', they're comin' and they keep comin'. Just line after line, wave after wave..."

TSN.ca has some footage of the events last night, really creeps me out.

No wonder no one likes Montreal or Montreal fans. I've never been to Montreal in my life and am still pegged with the stereotype that we're a bunch of idiots who are arrogant, cocky, and I guess now malicious after a win. It is embarrassing.

As a Montrealer who now lives abroad, and I don't care whether they are fans or not, this is embarassing as all hell. Why is it that Quebecers are more insane when it comes to this stuff than say, the three teams that went to the finals from Canada the last 3 seasons. Ottawa, OK, but don't tell me Calgary and Edmonton don't have crazy fans or people living in their city. Proud to be a habs fan, ashamed to be a Montrealer this morning. Get a life.

The rioters last night were not Montreal fans... They were just youngsters being S*** Disturbers.... They deserve to be put in jail and stay there... I find it disgusting that in a city that has big festivals like the Jazz fest and Just for Laughs without a hitch, that this form of vandalism is still done today... I agree with a few posts.. I think we should refrain from writing about this ever again after today... It was a boneheaded incident that doesn't need more fuel... Players win games, teams win championships. - Bill Taylor

If anyone needs to apologize BEFORE he makes a statement, maybe it would be wise if he refrained from making such statements. Are we immigrants getting into your comfort zone, Gormdog? Or are you really Don Cherry in disguise?

Anyone thinking this was an inevitability, expected or probable is both irresponsible and reactionary. If you tolerate this sort of behavior then obviously you have poor faith in the ability for people to change or have such low standards of the people you walk by on your day to work. Alcohol, adrenaline and a passion all mixed together in a mob mentality is definitely a catalyst for something stupid to happen. The police cant be everywhere, and for the most part of what goes on in the city, its up to EVERYONE to do what you think is right. Speak up when you see something that bothers you. Are those that tipped and subsequently torched the cop cars more responsible for the people that watched them do it? Not in my eyes, shame on anyone that was there. No really, why don't you guys just walk around dragging your knuckles a few days and breath through your mouths like the primatives you are. Its a blemish on the city and a blemish on the habs fans that now have to be associated with this debacle. I've always been an advocate that Police should exercise judgment more often (especially when you forgot to pay the bill that would renew your liscence and the cop tows your car away!), and it seems they did when they backed off the crowd exiting the Bell centre, but this is where I get fuzzy on the details, was it the crescent crowd, the bell center crowd or the mixing of both? Next victory, I would expect the police not to make the same "mistake" I'm sure the few people that said nothing will happen wanted more then anything to be right and is sorely dissapointed, especially now that it means the riot squad has to be prepared after every home game. Glad I got my happy post out last night, too bad for the City.

Hey Mike, would you feel the same of Gazette photographers shooting photos of burning cop cars and publishing them online? It's not really fair to conflate vandals and rioters with citizen journalism. Especially given that the Gazette has published photos taken by Joe Blow on his mobile on previous locations. If they had a cell phone shot of someone torching a cop car, I wouldn't have been surprised to see it on my doorstep this morning.

It is really terrible that a handful of idiots decide to pull off a stunt like this. Living in Toronto, I'm sure that I will hear comments about how "classless" Habs fans are. I'm pretty sure that last night's escapade was just a bunch of alcohol-filled losers who probably aren't even hockey fans. We can take comfort in one thing though ... when Laff fans say "oh, that would never happen in Toronto", its exactly the same theory as predicting what will happen when you fly a spaceship into a black hole ... you can theorise all you want, but nobody in our lifetime will ever really know!!! GO HABS GO!!!!!

The ones responsible are thugs, not hockey fans, and they were looking for an excuse. I was there in '93 the night we won, and it was the same thing. People were launching beer bottles from apartment high rises onto the heads of passing fans below. I watched what appeared to be street 'people' (and I use that term loosely) break into a grocery store in close proximity to the Forum to steal cigarettes and alcohol. Intelligent huh? It is that element of the city I love that I despise. F off, and don't associate yourself with MY team anymore.

I saw it on the news this morning and just shook my head in disgust.... after such a great night... a few thugs spoil it all and tarnish the name of our team and a great city... this is just more fodder for all Toronto and Canada wide media who can't wait for yet another reason to hate the Habs....very sad.... our team deserves better than those drunken louts

It's just disgraceful, really. These morons are tarnishing the reputation of habs fans everywhere, when it's clear [especially from reading this board] that most of us are sensible enough to know that rioting and arson are not the appropriate response to a series win. The police better get ready for round two, who knows what kind of hell they'll be raising if we win.

I'm actually surprised by this. I thought Montrealers had more class. This is a team with a long history of championships. We should be ashamed.

Gooooooooooooooood Morning Montreaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal! Those idiots are just that: idiots. I wonder why they bring cop cars at all. Just fill the place with cops. Idiots won't like hitting cops as much as burning cars. Cops fight back. Cars don't. _____________________________________________________ Remember February 19th: The Comeback

I had a great time last night! Most fans were just celebrating. I think I honked my horn all the way from the Bell Centre to Mile End. Rene Levesque Blvd was crazy! I don't condone rioting though. It's ok to celebrate but not get out of hand. Geez, the police who have been just great up to now are going to be pi**ed! I hope it doesn't detract from further revelry.

The scariest thought about shadi's first post is that means those people have been breeding. Nothing says "father-son bonding" like going out to cause a little anarchy. This is a very unfortunate incident, but I know that it in no way reflects the passions of true Canadiens hockey fans. There is a clear distinction between fans and hooligans. I'd wager that several of the latter weren't even at the game tonight, and decided to come out and use this great victory as an excuse to behave like animals. ----- Go Habs Go!

I got bumped around a few times by riot police, looking something like a clash out of the Lord of the Rings. Tapping their shields in unison, chanting, they were a ridiculously intimidating force. That being said, no place for fire bombing police cars and looting. You make a mockery of our city, using a Habs victory as an excuse to take the city into your own hands. The news reports 5 burned cars, but i walked the streets the whole night and there were at least 10 that had been set ablaze. Guy street, where a car even blew up, was cleaned up quite quickly, but at this very moment shells of cars remain on Crescent, Drummond, and Peel... The SAQ in the Faubourg and the American apparel and Reebok stores had their windows smashed and looted. I saw bruins fans walking around with their jerseys tucked in their stomachs like pregnant ladies because they were afraid to get beaten up. Bystanders nailed by errant rocks, thrown by (i apologize in advance, but i call em like i see em) mostly immigrants and francophones. I saw a police officer hit in the face with a glass bottle. Reporters and cameramen treated swept in away in a sea of batons and fluorescent green vests. Still smoldering police cars being treated like landmarks on a tour, smiles and pictures all around. I saw street fights break out between the rabid rioters and those with a bit more common sense, needing to resort to violence to prevent even more violence. A reporter from Global news walks up to me at around 2:30 am, still roaming, drunkish, and amazed at what pathetic acts some people will do in the name of hockey. "Sir, I see by your jersey that you are a Habs fan, any reaction to the vilence that resulted from tonights hockey game?" "... There was a game tonight?"

i was in the 86 scrum. it was actually pretty scary. i was only 20 at the time, and no, i was not smashing anything, just celebrating on st. catherines near crescent. when i saw people smashing store windows, i sobered up real fast and made myself scarce. some people seem to lose their minds completely, it is as if they are in a trance. from memory, no one smashing windows or overturning cop cars that night 22 years ago was wearing habs shirts. they were just vandals pure and simple. but it was really scary to me how crowd mentality took over...

It was reported that the violence was starting by small pockets, as most people were leaving the areas. Basically, a bunch of a-holes took advantage of being hidden amongst the crowd to commit some cowardly vandalism. It's always the same, most people just want to honk their horns and wave their flags, whereas a few people just show up to make some trouble. Sad part is, i'd bet a bunch of them weren't even there to celebrate the victory: just looking for a reason to cause some trouble.

Police cars have been burned in Montreal before by people claiming to be opposing police brutality. I have no idea if these are the same people. But whatever their motivation, perhaps they used the game 7 celebrations as a pretext. http://www.nationalpost.com/arts/Story.html?id=386922 http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=9c3abf9d-e55a-4c7c-81e1-... http://sketchythoughts.blogspot.com/2008/03/full-communique-setting-fire...

Just like the one fan who got beaten up in Boston and the many idiots I saw down there made all of Boston fandom look bad in my eyes, at first glance... Those idiots who broke windows and burnt cars make all of the Habs fans look bad in the eyes of everybody else. What will the league think? What will our players think? The hype is already bad enough to get them sequestered for the sake of their privacy and nerves. What now? This is ridiculous. I was able to look through the Bruins mess and realize the jerks I saw were just more visible because they were being jerks. I hope most of the NHL's more intelligent fans will look through tonights mess and see that out of thousands of rabid, partying Habs fans, the mess was only caused by dozens. As a whole, we're still a good bunch. 12 for 25.

This is atrocious. A black eye on the city and its team. These are truly not habs fans. We don't need morons like this in Montreal. I certainly hope Mr. Gainey addresses this in his press conference. You guys can go root elsewhere. These are just idiots who will use anything to wreak havoc. This is a city that is supposed to have the best fans in the NHL, it would be nice to be viewed as the classiest too. Truly a sad night for hockey fans in Montreal. Note to the SPVM: Don't be shy on using a little "extra force" tonight. These guys need to learn a lesson in intelligence.

No excuses for the hab "fans" who did all this, but the police will be more ready next time. One thing that got me really confused is why the riot police left after about an hour of spreading the crowd (which was at that time still just peacefully celebrating). They were doing a decent job, then suddenly vanished. Next thing I see a few police cars either getting vandalized or on fire. I'm guessing they didn't want to make the news by being too aggressive, but I have absolutely no clue why they didn't use some tear gas when it was clear that some people were up to no good. At that point, St-Catherine was filled with smoke from the burning cars anyway, which sort of ruined the atmosphere and caused most of the people that were celebrating peacefully to leave. They let it get so out of hand some people even broke into a SAQ and started stealing liquor. Another thing: the police let people drink on the streets (at least on Crescent) during the game. People were walking by cop cars with beer bottles in their hands. Once again, I am not defending any of the idiots who did all of this, but the police gets a F for riot prevention and handling. Just my 2 cents

*sigh* idiots, to be sure, but i also agree with christophurrr and derek.. we're not all bad. great win tonight.. i'm so pumped for thursday!

Tabarnouche! Imagine if they had lost!

There were no cops to be found in the time i was on St. Catherines. I was watching people celebrate from that police car which was subsequently torched long after I left. I saw 4 police officers in an hour, all 4 were directing traffic on Rene Levesque. Rioters were NOT Canadiens fans.

I just got back from downtown and my god... everything was fine at 11pm. I go in to McLean's for 30 minutes, come outside and see 2 cop cars on fire and others with broken windows. Pardon the language, but what the F. happened in 30 minutes? It's one thing to get excited about a win, another thing entirely to start destroying stuff for the heck of it. I'm ashamed of what people will hear about Montreal in the news tomorrow morning. Us fans should know better. Let it be known Mr. Boone, this is coming from a responsible 20 year old Yid. ;) The age limit is not necessarily the problem.

most of those bums probably arent true habs fan either, just supporting them because thats the cool thing to do. The true fans are the ones who stuck with the team even after last seasons heart-breaking loss to the leafs, the ones who watched our team bond and grow, and the ones who will appreciate the team win or lose

Thank you for mentioning that this was a localized thing. Sadly, it's to be expected. True fans don't need to go all Lord of the Flies just because their team prevailed over another. The Crescent St. scene is pretty icky on a normal night.

Thats embarassing. We should have more dignity and self-respect than to do something like that after just one series. Leaf fans would do that if they won a series. Not Habs fans. WE are supposed to have more class than that.

pathetic. get a life. c tout.

I am disgusted. For chirst's sake, we haven't won a thing yet. Dumb punks. "One face-off, one battle, one shift, one period, one game, one series at a time." "Are the Habs ready to pay the Price?"

not all under-30s are morons

true ------ almost as stupid as everyone complaining that carbo was an idiot for tonight’s line up and writing this team off because of a few I’ll admit none stellar periods. But none the less --- come on people it is ok to be celebratory but use your f'n heads !!!

This is stupid

Stupid but totally predictable. Seriously, did anyone expect otherwise?

Are you serious? That's just disgusting and stupid. Obviously these are descendants of the same idiots that rioted in 1986 and 1993.