EN 
DE 
Montreal Canadiens fans are widely recognized as the loudest and most passionate in the National Hockey League, and that fervor is only growing as the team aims for a second-round Stanley Cup playoff series.
Players say they feel the energy. Defenceman Noah Dobson, sidelined by injury at the start of the playoffs, expressed on Monday how eager he was to return. “It’s the best atmosphere in the league. This time of year, there’s no place like it,” said Dobson, who hails from Summerside, P.E.I.
Opponents also notice the crowd’s intensity. Tage Thompson of the Buffalo Sabres, a 2026 Winter Olympics gold medalist with the U.S. team, admitted it can be tough to stay composed amid the roaring Montreal fans.
“It’s a challenge, for sure. The place was loud tonight. You feel the energy and you’d feel that they had momentum off of it,” Thompson said after the Canadiens won Game 3 last Sunday.
The Canadiens’ spirited following has deep roots dating back 117 years, making the team the NHL’s oldest. Their history is closely intertwined with Quebec’s identity.
“Montreal is a hockey city,” said Nicolas Moreau, a social sciences professor at the University of Ottawa and author of Le Canadien de Montréal: une légende repensée.
Moreau explained how fans traditionally embraced the team in the 20th century as a way to celebrate local heroes who excelled on a global stage. At a time when tensions existed between English and French Canadians, Canadiens success provided pride during periods when French Canadians faced economic and cultural challenges.
“French Canadians in general weren’t experiencing such obvious successes… there were no major economic or cultural achievements. So, the Canadiens filled a void. Success came through them,” Moreau said.
He noted similarities today as many Montrealers and Canadians rally behind the Habs this spring. By winning games on U.S. soil and beating American teams at home, the Canadiens offer a symbolic pushback against the economic dominance from U.S. tariffs.
“That doesn’t matter; they’re wearing the Canadiens’ jersey,” Moreau remarked, emphasizing the unifying identity the team represents, beyond the mix of Canadian and American players.
Despite being the NHL’s most decorated franchise, Montreal has not won the Stanley Cup in over 30 years, and fans are starving for a championship. Benoît Melançon, a French literature professor at Université de Montréal and author of multiple books on the Canadiens, sees the playoff fervor as partly organic—especially after a long winter—but also driven by a feedback loop where fans are proud to be considered the loudest, and they strive to live up to it.
“There is a very strong sense of identity, and that didn’t come from outside — it came from the Canadiens themselves,” Melançon said. “The marketing team is saying, ‘Look, we are Montreal.'”
Melançon believes this is an ideal time to invest emotionally in the team. Many players are expected to remain with Montreal for the long term, contributing to the enthusiasm this season. Several players are Quebec natives, which further intensifies local support.
Historically, Canadiens stars like Jean Béliveau and Maurice Richard spent their entire careers in Montreal, winning multiple Stanley Cups. Melançon said today’s team reflects a return to that tradition of commitment.
Moreau also highlighted the excitement generated by the young, skillful players currently on the roster, adding to the team’s allure.
The team’s spirit even reaches those facing difficult circumstances. People using homelessness resource centres tune in to games, place bets on the final scores, and cheer for their favourite players.
It’s clear hockey holds a special place in Montrealers’ hearts and unites the city, Moreau said. Sports create social bonds across diverse communities, temporarily setting aside economic and social divides.
Still, Moreau cautioned, “Next we’ll have the World Cup,” signaling that focus will eventually shift to other major events.
