Canadiens open 2026-27 home schedule with Charlebois and Hockey Quebec tributes
Pregame ceremonies at the Canadiens' home opener marked 50 years of a Robert Charlebois classic and of Hockey Quebec.
The Canadiens used their 2026-27 home opener on Tuesday to mark two 50th anniversaries, one musical and one rooted in the game itself.
The pregame show began with a choral version of "Je reviendrai à Montréal," the Robert Charlebois song first released in 1976. Charlebois appeared by video message to introduce the choir, made up of 11- to 19-year-olds from Le Collège Vocal du Canada and led by Gregory Charles.
The song already had a hockey connection this year. Charlebois' son, Jerome, recorded a hockey-themed cover for the 2026 playoffs last spring, and images from that run were projected on the ice during the performance.
As player presentations began, the Canadiens were joined by 22 minor hockey players between the ages of 8 and 12. They were there to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hockey Quebec, founded in 1976 and the governing body of ice hockey in the province. The players represented 14 of its regional associations.
