Divine intervention for Canadiens?

posted by Dave Stubbs at 7h48 EST on Apr 22


Here's really why the Canadiens won last night, this emai received before the game from Inside/Out reader Christopher Borrelli:



I am a 22-year-old student completing a finance degree at Concordia University and I have been a Habs fan from the moment I was able to take my first steps.

I enjoyed watching them win the Stanley Cup back in ’93 and I continued to support them though the difficult times in the late 90s and early 2000s right through until now. I just wanted to point out how Habs fever has taken over the city and how FAITHFUL Habs fans really are.

I was at St. Joseph’s Oratory (on Monday) and as I was there silently praying outside. Suddenly, as if from the very Heavens themselves, I heard, “Go Habs Go! Go Habs Go!” and I noticed this sea of Bleu, Blanc et Rouge all around. Habs fans were at St. Joseph’s in their jerseys and Habs T-shirts.

It was full of Habs faithful – some were there climbing the stairs of St. Joseph’s on their knees, others were there to enjoy the beautiful weather and to chant. Still others were there to pray for their Montreal Canadiens and to light vigil candles for their heroes. It was a collision of the founding faiths of this province: Catholicism and Montreal Canadiens hockey.

It was a great sight! Let’s pray the Canadiens continue to play the way they did tonight, with their hearts on their sleeves! Go Habs Go!

Christopher Borrelli
Laval


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Comments

Garbo's picture
Submitted by Garbo on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 14:13.
This really just illustrates what a mockery religion is.

The S1C1L1AN's picture
Submitted by The S1C1L1AN on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 13:38.
Last night I watched the game with a good old friend , I told him of my secret weapon ..... I wore my sicily shirt under my Habs jersey and we won ..... When wearing this combination of clothing we are 11 - 1 . From now on The teach with his lucky cap and me with my shirt and jersey will wear them on when we can clinch a series.... GO HABS GO

Submitted by Lorne on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:50.
I guess God is a Habs fan. I hear He also cheers for the Fighting Irish football team.

MadApe's picture
Submitted by MadApe on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 12:18.
Of course God is a Habs fan. He is omnipotent after all. The Mad Ape www.tatumba.com

moser17's picture
Submitted by moser17 on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 11:22.
Whether your French Catholique or Irish Catholic, you work hard and you play hard and when times are hard you pray hard.

Submitted by PGauthier on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:17.
I'm not such a religious guy, but last night I experienced a return to praying for victory, reminiscent of when I was in Squirt hockey in the championships... We won that game too..!! Is it laughable??? (yes, kind of ..).. Did we win because we were praying...no, probably not.... But its good to know that everyone Wills the win in a different way... For those of us not playing the game its sometimes superstition (like the friend of mine who wore a bruins Jersey to put the Hex on them), or religion or flag waving... Hey, whatever works for you right??.. Lets not knock our own expression of Habs Fandom. Lets just join in the reverie..!!!

cautiousoptimist's picture
Submitted by cautiousoptimist on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:13.
Whoah, you mention religion and people get offended. But you mention religion and hockey in the same sentence, and you stir up all kinds of silly people. Guys, relax. He was kidding, and even if he wasn't, seriously, what's it to you? 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..."

HugeHabsFan's picture
Submitted by HugeHabsFan on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:25.
Besides, wasn't it Carbo's lucky tie that was the divine intervention?? lol ........... "To you from failing hands we throw the torch. Be yours to hold it high." The Drive for 25 is ALIVE!!

The Teacher's picture
Submitted by The Teacher on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 11:35.
It was our Catholic Hockey Prayer and my lucky hat as well as all of our Avatars. I will not wear the hat again until we have a chance to clinch a series again. "One face-off, one battle, one shift, one period, one game, one series at a time." "Are the Habs ready to pay the Price?"

Submitted by LesHabitantsToujours on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 13:44.
I watched the game in RDS instead of CBC. Maybe that made a difference too.

dysonsphere's picture
Submitted by dysonsphere on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:05.
People, come on it is obvious that it was not divine intervention but natural selection that won the game for the Habs last night. On to the next round where the Habs will continue to evolve into the champions they are meant to be.

Mr.Hazard's picture
Submitted by Mr.Hazard on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:22.
BLASPHEMER! lol Ex nihilo nihil fit

Submitted by Gelineau on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 09:36.
I was listening to CKAC from my home in Dallas suburb here yesterday morning and heard the main organizer encourage people to get out to St-Josephs Oratory to show their team pride. What an odd choice of venue. I would have picked foufoune electrique or something better, you know.

doug's picture
Submitted by doug on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 09:29.
I'm not religious, either, but no disrespect for the angry agnostics/atheists/whatever, but I DO believe this was tongue-in-cheek. And I DO believe it's Mr. Stubb's home, and he'll decorate it as he sees fit.

Kilgore Trout's picture
Submitted by Kilgore Trout on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:10.
word up. i'm as atheist as they come and this doesn't bother me one bit. let's take it for what it's meant as - a lighthearted human interest story. does anybody actually believe in the forum ghosts or in the many other superstitions that we habs fans and hockey fans cling to? of course not, but anybody who actually gets offended by it needs to grow a thicker skin.

HugeHabsFan's picture
Submitted by HugeHabsFan on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:24.
There was no offence taken. I'm Catholic. And I'm not angry. Just simply stating what created the win. :o)) ........... "To you from failing hands we throw the torch. Be yours to hold it high." The Drive for 25 is ALIVE!!

Scotty90's picture
Submitted by Scotty90 on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 09:25.
L' Oratoire St-Joseph = Le Frere ANDRE = ANDREi Kostityn :)

The Teacher's picture
Submitted by The Teacher on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 11:36.
ANDREi Markov. LOL "One face-off, one battle, one shift, one period, one game, one series at a time." "Are the Habs ready to pay the Price?"

HugeHabsFan's picture
Submitted by HugeHabsFan on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 09:23.
I highly doubt that divine intervention was the reason the Habs won last night. It was desire, hard work, talent, blood & sweat. PERIOD. ........... "To you from failing hands we throw the torch. Be yours to hold it high." The Drive for 25 is ALIVE!!

jimbo82's picture
Submitted by jimbo82 on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 09:23.
Ya I really don't think religion and God had anything to do with this. If there is a God you think he was watching the montreal canadiens? Think he should be worried about other things than hockey.

Submitted by merch on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 09:01.
Also, no disrespect to the e-mailer or Mr. Stubbs, but I don't think we need the religious junk on here. I come here to read about the Habs, not jesus.

Submitted by Billyboy on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 19:27.
Jeez, man, relax. I'm an athiest but I can enjoy a little religous levity.

Dave Stubbs's picture
Submitted by Dave Stubbs on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:01.
Please. This was sent in fun. Enjoy it as that and lighten up. And by the way, Jesus is a proper name. The J is capitalized, unless you're making an editorial comment. Dave Stubbs
Habs Inside/Out
Sports Feature Writer, Montreal Gazette

 


Scotty90's picture
Submitted by Scotty90 on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 11:12.
Dave... the things you have to put up with! Keep up the great work!

Mr.Hazard's picture
Submitted by Mr.Hazard on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:25.
Thanks :) Ex nihilo nihil fit

Rocket Richard's picture
Submitted by Rocket Richard on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:05.
Thank You Mr Stubbs for clearing that up. : - ) Yours Truly, Rocket Richard " YOU MUST HATE TO LOSE " http://leonsinvestmentservices.info

Rocket Richard's picture
Submitted by Rocket Richard on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 08:46.
No disrespect Christopher Borrelli on this. If you think that God was routing for the Habs, go re-check your faith because you just insulted God. I suppose God wanted Habs to win so that a violent riot broke out outside the bell center? You would think God has better things to do than watch and predict a hockey game. Like trying to see us humans live in peace among themselves. No, their was no divine intervention here. The team that really wanted to win this game,...won. Player Talent, hussle, speed, skating, puck control, outstanding goaltending won this game. (You get my point). And ghosts people, do not exist. Not in the rocket days, not even today. A Passion and desire to win is the only reasons teams win. Period. Yours Truly, Rocket Richard " YOU MUST HATE TO LOSE " http://leonsinvestmentservices.info

The Teacher's picture
Submitted by The Teacher on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 11:37.
Insulted God? LMAO "One face-off, one battle, one shift, one period, one game, one series at a time." "Are the Habs ready to pay the Price?"

Habs64's picture
Submitted by Habs64 on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 08:47.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgeRFY-WXL8&eurl

Submitted by mrstewart61 on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 14:30.
I wonder if they would have chosen Price if they had won the 2nd pick? Dave, any idea? Where was he on their list? Would they have taken him at #3, #4? ------------------------------------------------------------ My ultimate dream: Captain Saku Koivu skating around the Bell Centre holding the Stanley Cup.

smiler2729's picture
Submitted by smiler2729 on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 09:09.
I wonder what Pierre Maguire thinks now!

Rocket Richard's picture
Submitted by Rocket Richard on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 08:57.
Good Point!!! Yours Truly, Rocket Richard " YOU MUST HATE TO LOSE " http://leonsinvestmentservices.info

coutNY's picture
Submitted by coutNY on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 08:35.
I think its more that he wanted the Habs to win!

Laszlo's picture
Submitted by Laszlo on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 08:12.
Great piece of text. I would have done just about anything to get a feel the atmosphere in Montreal. Some day I'll cross the sea - some day. --- Vive le Bleu, Blanc et Rouge

smiler2729's picture
Submitted by smiler2729 on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 08:10.
It's too bad He couldn't prevent the baby-brains from looting and rioting in the streets after the win.