Weber of Canadiens sends important message for coronavirus fight

MONTREAL --Shea Weber took one of the most important one-timers of his NHL career this month, and it wasn't on the ice.

In a single take on his iPhone early on March 21, the Montreal Canadiens defenseman recorded a 60-second public service announcement encouraging every listener to do what they can in the fight against the coronavirus. The message is being sent to phone numbers throughout the province of Quebec.
Almost two weeks ago, Quebec premier Francois Legault turned to popular personalities across different fields of entertainment, in both English and French, to help spread the word to the public about safety measures that can and must be taken to help combat the virus.

The messages would be dispatched as so-called robocalls, familiar voices reminding of the importance of social distancing, washing hands and being on the lookout for and acting promptly on the symptoms of illness.
Legault's office reached out to CTV Montreal news anchor Mutsumi Takahashi to record a message and called the Canadiens for a voice from the hockey club. Paul Wilson, the Canadiens vice president of public affairs and communications, immediately suggested it be Weber.
A script was produced and emailed to the Canadiens captain, who needed 30 minutes to record the announcement and email it back to Wilson. By noon that day, the message was approved by the provincial government and was put into the system for phone calls that began that same afternoon. Radio stations soon picked it up for airing as well.

"I think it's really important," Weber said Monday on a video call arranged by the NHL. "We just all have to understand that we're all in this together. The only way you can do it is do it together. As soon as someone is kind of messing around and not taking it seriously, that's when things can turn bad for everyone.
"I was willing to help out for sure, and hopefully it can influence or help some of those people who maybe wanted to go out or do something that they shouldn't. Tough times, but we've got to stick together and come through this together."
Wilson said he joked to Weber upon receipt of the recording that the captain's word-perfect delivery and the way he met a deadline "would make him a great journalist or a great politician, and Shea said, 'No way!'"
On the media call Monday, Weber addressed fans who, like the players, are eager for a return to hockey at the earliest date. He had a thought for Nashville, where he played his first 11 NHL seasons with the Predators before being traded to the Canadiens on June 29, 2016, and offered a few words in French for Canadiens fans too.

"I just want to say merci and thank you, guys, for all your support and sticking with us through these tough times," Weber said. "It's not easy for anyone, it's not easy for us. … Obviously the people of Nashville, tough times for you, not only with the (March 3) tornadoes right before this. Hopefully you guys stay strong with this virus coming next. I know you guys will, it's a good city, you guys are strong together.
"The people here in Montreal, just we're looking forward to getting back in front of you at the Bell Centre whenever that time is. Merci beaucoup and restez prudent (thank you very much and remain careful)."