For those who do not know the Forum, it means nothing. For those who aren't interested in hockey, but have been there because they won tickets in a raffle or something similar, it is just another place to go on Saturday night. But to the fans and the players, this is the former home of the Montreal Canadiens and on this ice surface the real stars of hockey sweated like dogs to put a piece of rubber between two metal posts. Men duked it out without protection and goalies stood in front of pucks going 100/kph without helmets. All of this was for the love of a game. The game called hockey.
As many Montrealers know, the forum has existed for a long time, but it became the home of the Montreal Maroons and Canadiens during the 1924 season. It cost $1,500,000 to make the forum and it could fit 9,300 spectators. The first game ever played at the forum by the Montreal Canadiens was against the Toronto St Pats, and they won 7-1. Since the forum was opened the Montreal Canadiens have won 24 Stanley Cups, making them the best team in the NHL.
The forum had been renovated several times so that it now held 5500 more seats with a new roof. These are just some of the physical things about the Forum, but the real greatness of the Forum is the memories. Like Jacques Plantes inventor of the mask. Howie Morenz who died in the Forum and had thousands of fans pass by his casket. The amazing talents of Maurice "The Rocket" Richard and Ken Dryden. Recently the Forum was abandoned and the Habs took a new home, the Molson Center. Most of the Forum was sold and it will be used as an entertainment center.
This is a horrible end for such a historic building, but for those who knew it, it's memory will live on forever. Now that I've told you all this information why don't you test your skills and take the following survey.
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Grafic taken from the above web address
Created & last updated April 17, 2000 by The Great David