The Montreal Canadiens just celebrated 100 years of hockey. While hastily assembled in 1909 as a ragtag bunch, the now-legendary Habs played their first game on Jan. 5, 1910, beating the Cobalt Silver Kings 7-6 in overtime.
Over the next century, Les Canadiens suffered tragic deaths of star players, almost folded several times, re-established itself as part of the cultural fabric of Quebec, went through an infamous riot revolving around Maurice (The Rocket) Richard and eventually became the most storied and successful hockey team in history.
So, even though I am an ardent (if anguished) Toronto Maple Leafs fans, I know it is time to note a remarkable tribute DVD collection. The recently released 100 Years of the Montreal Canadiens is the best DVD set ever involving a National Hockey League team.
Mon dieu, it is painful to admit that when you spent your childhood backing the Leafs while your father rooted for Toronto’s most bitter enemy. Hockey Night in Canada was a battle zone in our house in my youth.
But credit where credit is due for 100 Years: This meticulous researched and beautifully presented set is a stunner. Especially if you choose it in the Special Collector’s edition, a wooden box containing five DVDs plus memorabilia, including a centennial set of 14 trading cards. There is also a regular edition of 100 Years of the Montreal Canadiens, a four-disc DVD set with no memorabilia. It is also worthwhile, although you also miss out on the bonus disc of “untold stories” of hockey lore.
The Leafs should be so lucky to have such choices. There is a new DVD set on the Leafs, as well as one on the Calgary Flames, but neither has the scope of 100 Years. More later.
Thinking about Les Habs actually brings back good memories. I met The Rocket himself long after his career ended, finding him gracious, shy but fascinating because he was so self-aware of the impact he made in his sport.
Richard, of course, is hard-wired into the DVD set. The key element is a major documentary, 100 Years of Glory: The History of the Montreal Canadiens, 1909-2009. It plays either in French, with narration by Pierre Lebeau, or in English, with narration by Viggo Mortensen.
He seems like an odd choice. But the American actor turns out to be a Habs fanatic. He brings his passion to the task, and has the star power, although I still would have preferred a Canadian voice.
As always, however, content is critical — and the story woven here gives a sweeping perspective on how the Canadiens first survived and then eventually thrived. The other discs in the regular edition offer vignettes on the 24 Stanley Cup championships plus other topics, including profiles of the greatest players.
The Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs’ 10-disc box set is Toronto Maple Leafs: Collector’s Edition: 10 Great Leafs and Their Most Memorable Games. Each disc chooses one player and one important game (in its entirety) that showed off that individual’s skills or extraordinary achievements. There are odd choices, such as Nik Borschevsky and Ken Wregget. For me, the best is the old stuff: Bobby Baun winning a playoff game with a broken ankle in 1964 and Red Kelly capping an illustrious career with the Leafs’ last Stanley Cup win on May 2, 1967. The B&W television images are fuzzy, but the memories are razor sharp.
The Calgary Flames
The Flames’ 10-disc box set takes a different and better approach, offering 10 Great Playoff Games from 1981 through 2008. Each game is shown in its entirety. Hardcore Flames fans will be forgiven if they replay Disc 5 repeatedly. It is the emotional high of the Cup final on May 25, 1989, with Lanny McDonald making history.
