Provincial lawmakers in Quebec have unanimously supported a resolution urging the National Hockey League to permit public Montreal Canadiens viewing events in the Outaouais region. A scheduled screening of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final against the Carolina Hurricanes at Gatineau’s Slush Puppie Centre was called off due to tickets being sold for a fundraising event. The organizers had obtained approval from TVA Sports, the exclusive French broadcaster of NHL playoffs, but the NHL rejected the screening due to the Ottawa Senators’ territorial rights in the area.
The NHL stated that the screening did not have the required authorization for large public viewings of their games. This decision has sparked controversy among local politicians, with over 7,600 individuals signing a petition requesting the NHL to make an exception for this case.
Describing the NHL’s stance as “shameful,” Parti Québécois MNA Pascal Bérubé, the party’s sports critic, introduced a motion in the assembly on Tuesday to address the issue. Bérubé expressed his disappointment in denying the Outaouais residents the opportunity to host hockey watch parties, highlighting the strong connection between the region and the Canadiens, including Habs legend Guy Lafleur’s ties to the area.
Game 4 of the series will take place in Montreal on Wednesday night, with the Carolina Hurricanes leading 2-1 after two overtime wins. The team that secures four victories will face off against Vegas in the Stanley Cup final, earning home-ice advantage as both Montreal and Carolina accumulated more regular-season points than the Golden Knights.