Step inside "The Alumni Lounge" for unfiltered stories from the legends who built the legacy of the most storied franchise in professional sports. Hosted by former Canadiens defenseman Patrice Brisebois and comedian and longtime sports reporter Chantal Desjardins, The Alumni Lounge, which is presented by Scotia Advice+ from Scotiabank, features in-depth chats with popular Habs players of the past, touching on everything from never-before-heard tales from the dressing room to the struggles high-performance players face after they hang up their skates.
0:00 Intro7:53 Interview with Geoff Molson and Brian Gionta begins9:00 How the pandemic has changed Geoff Molson personally and professionally10:30 What Geoff learned from former Molson owners of the Habs11:00 Brian on learning from Hall of Famers and winning a Stanley Cup as a rookie14:00 Geoff on buying the Canadiens as a 39-year-old and his first year as an owner16:00 How Geoff has developed as an owner in his 12 years in the job18:22 Memories from the 2010 Playoffs19:20 Brian's reaction to being named captain of the Canadiens21:16 Geoff on what made Brian a special player27:20 Patrice, Brian, and Geoff share their superstitions31:00 Dealing with the pressure of playing for and leading the Canadiens34:00 Brian on how to make it as a smaller player36:50 Why Brian hated facing Chara42:40 Geoff on what he wants his legacy to be
Chris Chelios took a break from the beach to join Breezer and Chantal in The Alumni Lounge. The three-time Stanley Cup champ and Hockey Hall of Famer chatted away about his career in Montreal, reminisced about his former teammates and coaches, and the Stanley Cup parade in 1986. Chelios had stories for days and spoke about founding the Malibu Mob with actor Tony Danza, briefly turning to bobsledding, the secret behind playing until age 48, and so much more.
0:00 Introduction7:47 Plekanec on his turtlenecks9:43 Raising his daughter11:00 His sons love sports12:39 Plekanec loses to partner and former WTA superstar Lucie Safarova on the tennis court14:06 Living with a retired pro athlete14:48 Playing hockey during the pandemic16:12 Missing fans 16:30 Thoughts on playing pro hockey next season16:58 Taking it one year at a time17:20 Brisebois on Plekanec's rookie camp18:37 Plekanec developed his work ethic in North America19:50 Waiting for an NHL call up21:15 Transition from Europe to North America22:55 Learning English from Seinfeld23:33 Thoughts on a career in coaching24:21 Plekanec on his time in Montreal24:50 Staying in touch with players and staff in Montreal26:00 How his role as a center evolved over his NHL career27:20 Alex Kovalev and Mike Cammalleri are the best players he's played with27:56 Hard time playing against Ryan Kesler, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin29:35 Being paired with struggling players30:08 Challenge of playing with different line mates32:00 Memories with teammates32:35 Brisebois praises Plekanec35:02 Plekanec loved the pressure of playing in Montreal36:18 Coaching style37:10 Being traded to Toronto38:28 Desire to return to Montreal39:07 Battling injuries 39:52 Finishing his career as a Hab41:00 Playing his 1,000th game42:10 Favorite memories as a Hab: 2010 Playoffs43:35 First big purchase: a computer44:10 Life advice 44:51 Playing for Guy Carbonneau, Doug Jarvis, Claude Julien and Michel Therrien46:00 Alain Vigneault was Breezer's favorite coach46:25 Breezer's impressed by Plekanec's work ethic48:54 Message to the fans49:33 Conclusion
0:00 Introduction7:20 Beginning of interview7:33 Kovy on his many nicknames8:51 Living in Moscow9:20 Transition to coaching11:58 Turning to acting after retiring14:54 Racing around the tracks with Breezer17:00 Being a pilot18:15 Being traded to Montreal24:37 Favorite memories of being a Habs29:45 Leaving home at age 1434:43 Style of play inspired by different players39:30 Playing with Lemieux, Gretzky and Messier40:07 Being a leader no matter what role he plays41:45 Famous 7-minute shift with the Rangers47:33 Bob Gainey's role in reviving Kovy's season in 200951:35 Disappointing end to NHL career54:51 Importance of saving money56:12 Living life to the fullest
0:00 Intro3:15 Breezer on playing in two separate eras in Montreal4:11 Boos and ovations from the Bell Centre crowd7:20 Guy Carbonneau as a roommate9:35 Sheldon Souray interview begins11:39 Post-hockey life14:48 Being traded to Montreal17:20 Habs veterans lending a helping hand19:17 Changing the course of his career and getting on the PP21:33 Practice like you play22:14 How scouts accidentally made Sheldon a power play threat24:05 Saku Koivu's return from cancer28:40 A difficult transition to retirement33:52 Struggling with addiction and his road to recovery43:30 Alex Kovalev46:15 Buying a car with a bag of cash49:00 Advice for young players