Gorges: Being a Hab was a 'true honor'

MONTREAL - After spending seven-plus seasons in a Canadiens uniform, it would be understandable if Josh Gorges struggled to choose his favorite Habs memory.

But, the 34-year-old Kelowna, BC native doesn't even hesitate when asked to recount the moment he cherished above all others while sporting the bleu-blanc-rouge.
Gorges, who hung up his skates on Monday after a 13-year NHL career, will never forget the events that occurred at the Bell Centre on April 10, 2008.
"It was the first time we stepped out for a playoff game against Boston my first full year. Seeing the crowd, feeling the energy, I had chills skating around before going to the bench for the national anthem. I was sitting there going, 'Oh my God, I can't believe what I'm a part of right now,'" recalled the former defenseman, on the festivities ahead of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals that spring. "I kept telling myself, 'Don't get caught up in what's going on outside and the actual rink itself.' But, I couldn't help myself to just look up and watch the jumbotron, watch the fans and try to soak it all in. It was remarkable."

What was even more remarkable, according to Gorges, was witnessing the reaction of the city as a whole when the Canadiens eliminated their Original Six rivals with an emphatic 5-0 victory in Game 7 in Montreal.
"I couldn't believe what was going on in the streets, with the traffic and the restaurants. That's when it hit me. I said, 'Wow! Can you imagine what it would be like to win a Stanley Cup in this city? If this is what it's like after winning the first round, what would it be like to actually win a Stanley Cup here?' I can't imagine," mentioned Gorges. "I try to tell other players I train with during the summer what it's like, but until you get to experience it, you really have no idea."
While the Canadiens would go on to be eliminated by the Philadelphia Flyers in Round 2, Gorges did come relatively close to reaching the Finals as a member of the CH, taking part in the Conference Finals in both 2010 and 2014.
Failing to hoist hockey's top prize with the club didn't take any of the luster away from his tenure with the NHL's winningest franchise, though.
"It was the best seven-and-a-half years of my hockey career. My wife [Maggie] and I, we still talk about it today. Playing for the organization, that feeling there was coming into the games, the atmosphere and just what it was like being around the city," mentioned the former Habs assistant captain. "But, probably more so is the teams that we had, the teammates I played with, and the friends and relationships I made. It just seemed like every year, even though guys came and left and new guys came in, it was just a great group of people to be involved with. Then, to represent the greatest hockey franchise in the history of the game was just a true honor. It really was."
Along the way, Gorges played the role of mentor - and landlord - to a young Brendan Gallagher when he came on the scene in 2012-13.
Gallagher spent his first two seasons living with Josh and Maggie on the South Shore, and the bond between all three of them remains as strong as ever.
"We're still close. We still talk all the time. Summertime, he'll either come out to Kelowna or we'll head out to Vancouver to visit with him," confirmed Gorges. "I'm pretty sure him and my wife probably talk more than we do. She absolutely loved having him around. She thinks of him as one of our kids still. He really is like a part of the family. He's not a friend, he's like an extension of our family."
Watching Gallagher develop from afar in the years since his departure from the Canadiens has been a real source of pride for Gorges.
"He's really grown into not just a good hockey player, but a leader and a mentor for other young players coming in. People around the League look at him as someone who's irritating to play against and I know a lot of guys around the League will say they can't stand him, but to me that's a sign of respect. They know this guy is going to come and compete. He's hard to play against every night. It's miserable," praised Gorges. "He's really come into his own. I'm happy for him. I know he's worked extremely hard. He comes from a great family. You know just meeting his mom and dad, the upbringing he had, he's just a great kid."

In addition to Gallagher, Gorges still maintains close ties with quite a few former teammates. He also has his fair share of friends on the current roster, too.
"There's Colby Armstrong, Hal Gill and Brian Gionta. Gio and I have become extremely close, especially playing another three years in Buffalo together," listed Gorges. "Even with the team they have now, half of that team lives in Kelowna, I feel like. I've known Shea my whole life, and Carey and I go back years and years. He's one of my closest friends. Even Karl Alzner lives out in Kelowna now. There's quite a contingency there."
Life after hockey
Josh and Maggie, who still reside in the Okanagan Valley, are the proud parents of four-year-old Noah and three-year-old Jayden.
With hockey and the hectic schedule that comes with it officially in the rearview mirror, Gorges is looking forward to fatherhood on a full-time basis.
"The opportunity I have to be with my kids more, be able to take them to their events and get them skating and playing hockey, watching them grow up the last four months has been amazing," said Gorges. "When you're playing, you miss a lot of that stuff. That always bothered me. My wife would call, 'Oh, they're walking. Oh, they're talking,' and you'd miss it. To be home and witness it all first-hand is the greatest thing about not playing hockey."
As is being a hockey dad himself, of course.
"I absolutely love it. I love seeing them in their little gear and they're excited to go out there and have fun. It's the best feeling ever," said Gorges. "I can't wait for my youngest to get going in hockey. He's another year or so away. It's just been a real thrill."
When he isn't with Maggie and the boys, you'll likely find Gorges working with his former Junior club - the WHL's Kelowna Rockets - during home practices and games alike.
"I've just been helping coach. I don't go on the road with them. I go on the ice and practice with them and do what I can," explained Gorges, on helping out head coach Adam Foote's contingent. "Then, I watch the games and relay insight that I can see from up above. I'm doing whatever they need from me, really."
Duties with the Rockets aside, though, Gorges is hoping to return to Montreal for a visit soon.
"We'd love to get out there. We have so many close friends. I just want to go and actually watch a game in the stands from a fan's perspective. I never got a chance to watch a game in the Bell Centre," concluded Gorges. "There's no better place than Montreal to just go and get away and have some nights out. I would definitely like to get back there."