Written by Habsterix, AllHabs.net

PENTICTON, BC.  — For someone who likes writing, there is no better comfort than being read, no matter if the readers fully agree or not with what’s being written. And for someone who writes for the fun of it and not for dollars, it quickly becomes a hobby, a passion which hopefully is being felt by those reading the words.

It is with great pleasure that I am joining what is already a great team of writers here at All Habs Hockey Magazine and it is my hope that I will be able to live up to the high standards they have already attained. After all, you don’t rank 11^th overall with almost 45,000 followers on Twitter without quality content!

For those who don’t already know me, you can expect a healthy mix of thought provoking pieces, often showing the other side of the coin, as well as some humour.

On the person behind the character:

Born in the 60’s in the Eastern Townships, I remember watching the games on Saturday nights with my dad, listening to René Lecavalier and Gilles Tremblay describing the games like classic stories. Players who are today considered legends were still working at writing the record book not only of the Canadiens, but the NHL as well.

As a young teen, I remember my excitement each time that Guy Lafleur touched the puck, skating like the wind, hair floating, and letting a laser beam shot go, beating the goalie low, stick side! I remember the great Ken Dryden and wanting a duplicate of his mask, as I was looking at him standing in front on his net, arms crossed over his stick. There was Doug Jarvis who was winning the majority of his faceoffs.

I recall Big Bird (Larry Robinson) carrying the puck from end to end with breath-taking rushes, and the other members of the Big Three in Guy Lapointe and Serge Savard, the true inventor of the “spinorama.” I also remember Bob Gainey, who was playing with a separated shoulder in the playoffs against the Islanders, only to get hit from behind by Bryan Trottier, separating the other shoulder, and to see him come back in the game continuing his physical play, helping eliminate them and Mike Bossy! I recall Guy Carbonneau and his incredible anticipation, throwing himself in front of shots like no others could.

I’m still remembering the Kids’ line of Doug Risebrough centering Mario Tremblay and Yvon Lambert, a line that could change the tempo of a game with their relentless hard work, crushing bodychecks and often with a few fights.  Who can forget Lambert’s winning goal against the Bruins? There was Chris “Knuckles” Nilan who, if he didn’t win his fight, was going at it again with the same opponent in the same game and beating him up, often against guys much bigger than himself!

Back then, only Saturday nights’ games were televised at La Soirée du Hockey with the exception of playoffs, of course. On week nights, I could only watch the first period, having to go to bed as there was school the next day. The exception was when the Canadiens had a chance to win the Stanley Cup that night. Do I ever remember the post-game celebrations on the ice and in the dressing room after a Stanley Cup win! I have lived to see Jean Béliveau, Henri Richard, Yvan Cournoyer, Serge Savard, Bob Gainey and Guy Carbonneau lifting the Cup oh so high!

In the Spring of 1985, I was fortunate enough to be at the Palais des Sports to see in person the Sherbrooke Canadiens win the Calder Cup in the AHL, a team which included names such as Brian Skrudland as team captain, with Serge Boivert, Mike Lalor, John Kordic, Gaston Gingras as well as two young guns just called up from junior, Stéphane Richer and Patrick Roy. What they all have in common is that they all graduated with the big club the following season, winning the Stanley Cup in 1986!

I moved to the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia in 1992, where I continue to support and cheer the Habs. My wife was a Calgary Flames’ fan when I met her but she switched to the Canadiens several years ago. Both my kids proudly wear their Habs’ gear wherever they go and it’s as a family that we shared the magic of being fans of the most decorated franchise in NHL history.

Why Habsterix?

Asterix is, with Lucky Luke, one of the cartoons that always managed to entertain me over the years and bring a smile to my face, even in bad times. I love the characters and their roles in the village, but mostly the idea that they can resist to Julius Caesar and his roman empire, with the help of their famous magic potion. Those who know me will tell you that I’m someone who has a great sense of humour and who appreciates the benefits of a good laugh.

I don’t take the internet seriously and combining the fact that I’m a Habs’ fan and my liking for this character came to Habsterix, a fictional figure which allows me to keep things light and impersonal on fan forums or web sites like this one.