Michel Lacroix: The voice of the Canadiens

MONTREAL - When Michel Lacroix speaks, Habs fans listen.

Cued by the guitar riffs of Coldplay's Fix You, one voice turns into 21,000; "Mesdames et Messieurs, Ladies and Gentlemen. Accueillons nos Canadiens!"

It's the phrase used to introduce the Canadiens to the ice, but a line whose author needs no introduction, himself.

"Slowly it became somewhat of a trademark," said the long-time Canadiens public address announcer of his famed introduction. "It clicked, everybody liked it… a little phrase, just a few words to get the attention [of the crowd]."

For 30 years, Lacroix has been at the helm of the Canadiens in-house announcing.

"It shows that he's a true professional at what he does. People that stay in the same organization for so long, there's a reason for it," said former Canadiens forward Alex Belzile.

Three days after being recalled on February 9, the 31-year-old journeyman scored his first career NHL goal. Fittingly, it was Lacroix who announced it.

"He came to congratulate me personally after I scored my first goal. Little things like that are sometimes trivial, but when it happens to you, it's heartwarming and it makes a difference," said Belzile. "It's something I'll remember for a long time."

A PA announcer's job is to speak - or, more specifically, announce - but to Lacroix, the way you do it is what dictates the crowd's reaction.

"You've got to pick up the moments, you've got to listen to the crowd, the way they react," he explains. "Don't think that you are the show. You are a part of the show; you are introducing the stars, but you are not the star," said Lacroix, reflecting on the formula that has driven him to a lengthy career of success - one that not even he ever imagined.

"I don't score goals; I only announce them. They get the cheers, but I've got to find a way to get the fans cheering for our players," he said.

It wasn't that long ago that Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson, who grew up on the West Island of Montreal an avid fan of the bleu-blanc-rouge, was one of those fervent supporters encouraging their team from the stands.

And when he transitioned from the seats to the ice, he would still get chills, even behind enemy lines as a member of the Florida Panthers and Pittsburgh Penguins.

"When I played as an away opponent, that would always give me goosebumps when I was on the ice, even as the away team," said Matheson on hearing Lacroix welcome the Canadiens to the ice. "So much of what reminds me of my childhood and going to games is listening to his voice."

Less than two periods into the November 19 game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Matheson crept into the slot where he received a no-look pass from Nick Suzuki, and rifled a shot over Carter Hart's right shoulder for his first goal as a Hab.

Mere moments later, he listened as Lacroix prompted the crowd ovation.

"It's a moment that I won't soon forget," said Matheson following the Canadiens' annual Hockey Fights Cancer Night game. "It's hard to put into words, but it's very special."

Matheson can't imagine hearing another voice through the Bell Centre speakers, and we'd be hard pressed to find a fan who disagrees.

In 1993, Lacroix assumed full-time duties of the PA position in Montreal, but his tenure with the Canadiens ranges well beyond that. It was in 1977 that the Laval, QC native first stepped into the penalty box at the Forum for his first game with his childhood team.

Prior to making the jump to the professional ranks, Lacroix, like any other unestablished candidate, had to prove himself.

In the 1970s, Lacroix landed with the Laval National in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, where he honed his skills behind the microphone - a talent that didn't come as natural as the purity of his voice.

"I was listening to broadcasts on TV and radio, but I had no clue how to work behind a microphone," admitted Lacroix. "It took me a while, maybe a year or so to get accustomed to different types of announcing."

The same way it is a popular breeding ground for future NHLers, the QMJHL also turned out to be the birthplace of Lacroix's career as a public address announcer and the gateway to his entry as the voice of the Montreal Canadiens.

But before making his debut with the Canadiens, Lacroix made a pit stop on Montreal's east end where he would introduce his voice to the world.

Literally.

With the 1976 Summer Olympic Games held in Montreal, Lacroix was appointed the official announcer at the Olympic Stadium.

"They told me, 'Well, you probably have an audience of about 1.2 billion people,' and you just go, 'Ok!'" he laughed.

In the eyes of Claude Mouton, the Montreal Canadiens' director of public relations and in-house announcer at the time, Lacroix passed the test - or better yet, aced it. Mouton told Lacroix that if he could do the Olympic Games, he could probably help them on a few occasions, too.

On March 30, 1977, Lacroix launched his NHL career, and the rest is history.

Forty-six years later, much has changed, but his passion for his profession has remained the same. It's the adrenaline rush and feeling of perfection that keeps Lacroix on the edge of his seat every time he puts on the headset.

"I think still having fun with it and still being a little nervous every time you get in your seat is what does it," he said.

"Twenty people, twenty thousand people, seventy-five thousand people, the voice will remain the same," he added. "I just go out there and give it a blast. It's fun, it has to be fun."

While it's fun for Lacroix, it's equally as thrilling for the fans who are listening, and the excitement isn't necessarily limited to those in the crowd. Current players have also made a point of introducing themselves to Lacroix, putting a face to the voice they so often hear.

"I actually saw him for the first time after one of the games a couple of weeks ago, and I just went up to him and said, 'I don't think we've actually met.' It felt like I was meeting somebody that I already knew in a way, but yeah, it was one of those people that I wanted to make sure that I had the opportunity to introduce myself to," said Matheson.

As much fun as Lacroix has, he understands and acknowledges the business side of the job. Preparation, which to him is a form of respect, is essential. Lacroix puts an emphasis on "getting it right," and does his homework to ensure as close to perfection as possible.

"We'll be introducing the guys from 1972, you can't miss that; Guy Lafleur's funeral, you just can't miss; Mr. Béliveau's [funeral], same thing; moments of silence; okay, let's get it done properly, the correct way," he said.

When asked if there is anything he would change from his journey thus far, Lacroix's answer was simple.

"Not a single day. This is the way I wanted to do it; this is the way I did it," he said. "I've made mistakes along the way but name me someone who didn't make a mistake. Of course, you learn from it."

"Any regrets?" he asked himself. "Not at all."

While it may seem like Lacroix's voice is his primary weapon, he pointed elsewhere to identify his sharpest tool in the shed.

"If you want to have a good PA, of course you do have to talk, but you should listen a lot," said Lacroix. "To talk the right way, you've got to listen and listening to our fans and listening to the people around makes you better."

When Habs fans speak, Michel Lacroix listens.