Canadiens hit the high note in Vegas 

MONTREAL – The Canadiens and Céline Dion are the duo you didn’t know you needed.

That, of course, changed when their two worlds met in Sin City on Oct. 30.

Minutes after the final buzzer sounded at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on the eve of Halloween, an unexpected encore was added to the night’s setlist when the Quebec singer and icon entered the scene, turning the team’s locker room into a backstage meet-and-greet area.

For upwards of 30 minutes, players, coaches, management, and staff filtered in and out of the room awaiting their opportunity to meet the Grammy Award winner. One of them was Habs captain Nick Suzuki.

“I know she’s an icon in Quebec, especially,” said Suzuki. “She was awesome. She loved the team. We were all really happy to come meet her and her family, so it was a cool experience for us.”

The Canadiens’ head coach Martin St-Louis, who is seven years younger than the vocal powerhouse, orchestrated a 21-second handshake heard around the world as he recalled memories from seeing Dion perform for Pope John Paul II in 1984. 

“We’ve changed a little since then, but not too much” Dion laughed, alongside St-Louis.

Brendan Gallagher was another one of many that exchanged words with the Charlamagne, QC native.

“That’s an experience that a lot of people would like to have,” Gallagher said. “She brings back a lot of positive memories, especially for a lot of families here in Quebec. I know my fiancée and her family were very excited.”

Generally speaking, Dion is the entertainer in life. On this Monday in October, however, she experienced the show through a new lens.

“You guys entertained us tonight like crazy,” Dion told Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Alex Newhook and Arber Xhekaj. “I sat down tonight, and I tried to stay seated, and I could not.”

The Canadiens may have surrendered the extra point in a shootout that night but entertaining one of music and Quebec’s all-time greats is a win in our books.

“You have supporters here. A lot. We’ll be watching,” Dion assured the youngsters. 

Near, far, wherever they are, Celine Dion’s heart will always go on for the Canadiens.