Thursday, May 16, 2019

May 16th 1977 (the good old days) Habs Stanley Cup Parade 42years ago

History Through Our Eyes: May 16, 1977, Stanley Cup parade

On May 16, 1977, in what was an almost annual rite of spring, Montrealers lined the streets to pay tribute to their hockey champions.
May 16, 1977, Stanley Cup victory parade: Montreal Canadiens captains Serge Savard and Yvan Cournoyer flank the Stanley Cup as Montrealers line the streets to pay tribute to the championship team. Michael Dugas / Montreal Gazette
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On May 16, 1977, in what at that time was an almost annual rite of spring, Montrealers lined the streets to pay tribute to their hockey champions. This photograph by the Montreal Gazette’s Michael Dugas shows Montreal Canadiens defenceman Serge Savard (left) and captain Yvan Cournoyer flanking the Stanley Cup.
Our article the next day estimated that there were half a million fans along the six-mile parade route, which started at the Forum at Ste-Catherine and Lambert-Closse Sts. and ended up at city hall, where 132 bottles of champagne were quaffed by the team, city officials and fans.
During the parade, the biggest cheers were reserved for the vehicles carrying Savard and Cournoyer, Guy Lafleur and Steve Shutt, and goalie Ken Dryden, Dick Bacon reported.
Savard received a rousing reception when he spoke on behalf of his teammates at the rotunda at city hall.
“It’s nice to play on the greatest team in the world in the greatest city in the world,” he said.
There was some truth to that estimation. The Habs lost only 10 of 94 games that season on their way to their Stanley Cup victory over the rival Boston Bruins. They had also won the Stanley Cup the previous year, and would go on to win again in 1978 and 1979.
There hasn’t been a parade for a while now, though. The Canadiens last won the Cup in 1993.
The uncropped photo. Michael Dugas / Montreal Gazette

3 comments:

BobB said...

And what a time it was. Wonderful memories. Thanks for posting, Les.

BobB

Marguerite Guineheux said...

They sure did wear their T-shirts skin tight in those days!

Les_F said...

when your that age everything was tight,and rarely was anyone over weight it seems. Being young had advantages.......lol Cheers ! Les