Montreal Canadiens supporters are renowned for their deep hockey knowledge, yet their emotional swings from intense criticism to fervent praise often leave observers questioning if they are the most fickle fanbase in the sports world.
The Bell Centre Rollercoaster
The dual nature of Habs fandom was on full display during a recent matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers. The game began disastrously for the home team, with the Canadiens down 3-0 after just six shots in the first period. Goaltender Samuel Montembeault bore the brunt of fan frustration, facing boos and sarcastic cheers for routine saves from the upper sections of the arena.
Yet as the game dramatically shifted—with Montreal scoring four unanswered goals to take a 4-3 lead—those same critics transformed into enthusiastic supporters. By the third period, the Bell Centre echoed with chants of Montembeault's name as he finished with 38 saves in what ultimately became a 5-4 shootout loss.
Flyers defenceman Cam York captured the atmosphere perfectly, noting 'This building is pretty crazy at times for Montreal.'
A History of Emotional Extremes
This rapid shift from condemnation to celebration has deep roots in Canadiens history. The most infamous example occurred on December 2, 1995, when coach Mario Tremblay left legendary goaltender Patrick Roy in net during an 11-1 thrashing by the Detroit Red Wings. Fans subjected Roy to sarcastic cheers for easy saves, prompting the goaltender to raise his arms in frustration before storming off the ice and telling team president Ronald Corey he was finished with the franchise.
The treatment of Roy—the architect of Montreal's last two Stanley Cup victories in 1986 and 1993—represented Habs fandom at its most brutal. Former general manager Bob Gainey later expressed similar frustration when fans targeted defenceman Patrice Brisebois, calling critics 'a bunch of gutless bastards.'
The Québécois Player Dynamic
A troubling pattern emerges when examining these episodes of excessive fan negativity: the ire is frequently directed at Québécois players. This raises important questions about whether local athletes face heightened scrutiny and expectations.
The phenomenon explains why many Quebec-born players express reluctance to join the Canadiens. The cases of Jonathan Drouin and Guillaume Latendresse illustrate how immense hometown expectations can become burdensome. When Latendresse began his career, fans chanted 'Guy, Guy, Guy' as if they had discovered the second coming of legendary scorer Guy Lafleur.
As one fan named Rufus observed at McLean's Pub: 'Anyone who speaks French, they're held to a higher standard. They want the French players to be the best, but it's not the '70s anymore.'
Another patron, Daniel Ménard, compared Montreal's passionate following to other iconic sports cities: 'Look at the Boston Red Sox, it's not that different. But it is true that we are a bit bipolar in Montreal when it comes to hockey.' He noted how quickly expectations escalate, with fans discussing Stanley Cup parades after a few wins then despairing after minor setbacks.
Not all observers believe Québécois players receive special treatment. Ménard suggested goaltenders generally face the most intense scrutiny, citing the love-hate relationship fans had with Carey Price and the ongoing debates about the team's current netminding situation.
Regardless of the target, the passion—and occasional fickleness—of Canadiens fans remains an integral part of Montreal's hockey culture, reflecting both the deep knowledge and high expectations that make this fanbase uniquely demanding.
