MONTREAL -- All hockey was Les Glorieux this weekend.
They were all here last night at the Bell Centre.
The big names from the past.
The big stars of the future.
In attendance was a who's who from the Canadiens' glory days: Henri "Pocket Rocket" Richard, Serge Savard, Jean Beliveau, Guy Lafleur, Dickie Moore, Yvan Cournoyer.
Oddly enough, the first game of Beliveau's prolific career was an all-star game on Oct. 3, 1953. He signed a contract at noon and later that day was in the lineup down the street at the old Montreal Forum as the defending Stanley Cup champions took on the NHL all-stars.
"There were only six teams then," Beliveau noted.
Before the puck was dropped last night, the old heroes visited the new heroes in their dressing rooms. They shared a few moments, and some smiles and laughs, making the experience -- and trek --all the more worthwhile.
"Who wouldn't want to come to Montreal for the weekend?" asked Sharks centre Joe Thornton.
Lightning centre Vincent Lecavalier was feeling a little trepidation before his flight landed Thursday, but he's been welcomed back to his hometown with open arms. He received thunderous standing ovations when he was introduced before last night's game and Saturday's skills competition.
Amid all the talk Lecavalier will be dealt to the Habs, even Beliveau and Lafleur noted this would be a nice place for the Tampa star.
"Pressure is part of playing sports and I'm sure that Vincent can handle it," said Beliveau.
While the all-star game itself never lives up to its billing because it essentially turns into shinny with few hits and saves, there was something different about the atmosphere -- mainly because of the venue.
"Playing in Montreal is the best city in the world when you're winning," said Lafleur. "You still have a lot of pressure, but the pressure is part of the game and it's a lot easier when you have a winning team. We have great fans. It's a tough town to beat, fan-wise.
"People are waiting for another Stanley Cup year and they think it's going to be this year with the 100th anniversary (of the Habs). The challenge is there."
The Habs have always been lauded for doing it right when it comes to celebrations and this one was no different.
Sure, it helped that Alexei Kovalev, Andrei Markov, Mike Komisarek and Carey Price were all in the East lineup, but the celebration would have been there without them.
There is passion here for hockey that doesn't seem to exist anywhere else. You can feel it on the streets. You can see it on the massive poster of Price outside the Bell Centre. You can sense it listening to the fans talking about the Habs on the call-in shows.
The NHL's board of governors recognize the history and honoured it. Saturday morning they met at Windsor Hall (formerly the Windsor Hotel) where the Habs were formed in 1909 and where the league was born eight years later.
There is a sense of exuberance from visitors when former players such as Beliveau, Savard, Richard, Cournoyer, Moore and Lafleur walk into a room.
'Special' for Lecavalier
They are part of the history and this is an organization that honours its heroes instead of casting them aside.
Many thought Lecavalier might not enjoy this weekend. If anything, he might have savoured it the most.
"I enjoyed this one for sure. It's my fourth all-star game and it's the one that's most special to me," said Lecavalier. "To see the Montreal fans, the history and the 100th anniversary celebration and just being in this room. This is something I will never forget."
Who knows? Nothing says Lecavalier couldn't be part of that history someday.
