Montreal may be abuzz right now because the countdown to this weekend’s UFC 158 fight card is nearly at an end, but Quebec’s largest metropolis is first and foremost a hockey-town.
On Wednesday night, the illustrious history of Canada’s game mingled with the dynamic excitement of one of the city’s favorite athletes, when UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre performed the ceremonial pre-game puck drop before the NHL action got underway.
The honor preceded an important clash between Northeast Division rivals, the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators, which had the Bell Centre jumping. But it wasn’t just the impending game that put fans into a frenzy. St-Pierre got quite a hand for his part.
Making his way onto ice, St-Pierre was greeted by a loud, extended applause. I’m sure it will prove to be very little next to the one he gets when he returns to the Bell Centre on Saturday night to defend his title against anti-hero Nick Diaz, but if nothing else, the support GSP received confirms that Montreal is raring to go for fight night.
And hey, so what if Diaz missed his scheduled open workout this week? My guess is that a lot more people, at least north of the border, turned into Wednesday night’s game.
The Canadiens went on to take a 4-3 shootout victory over the Sens, while St-Pierre got to enjoy what was probably a very cool experience, as well as do a little promotion for his upcoming match.
Good thing nobody asked Diaz to drop the puck.
The attached video was posted on on the Canadien’s website.
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