Our First Nations brothers notwithstanding, it’s important to remember that the French were the first “Canadians” here in what we call Canada today. Up until 1759, New France essentially covered the entire eastern half North America, stretching all the way from the Maritimes and Saint Lawrence River, through the Ohio Valley (ie: Detroit or the “the narrows” in French) and all the way down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. The English presence was limited to just a small pocket in the northeast including Virginia, the Carolinas, New York and Boston, while the Spanish had free rein in the west, having already been present there for some 200 “plus” years (ie: California, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico and even venturing as far north as Montana (ie: Spanish for “mountains”). Then at that pivotal moment at the Battle of Quebec in 1759, a single yet “lethal” volley from the British line, cast the dye for how our continent would eventually emerge and thus appear today.

I’m hardly “pro” French myself, as my bloodlines have been waring with them for centuries (ie: English & German). However I respect the French very much for their unwavering conviction, pride and backbone. Like Canada itself, the French are so much a part of hockey and hockey is so much a part of the French …

otherwise Canada would have been no better than the unrest in Ireland between the North and South

I get the whole preserving culture thing, but given how communication technologies have shrunk the world these days, it doesn’t seem wise to not also learn a second language- English/French in Canada & English/Spanish in the US. Or Mandarin I suppose I know I wish I’d been taught more Spanish at an earlier age and that isn’t even an official language in the US.

However, if this is the road you are going down (“you” being Habs fans & management), please understand you are now NOT doing “everything it takes to win”. You are doing as much as you can under these constraints. Montreal will have a handicap, there is not doubt. When you limit your pool of selection, there is a very real chance you do not get the best person.

Good article here, thank you.

I think there are some legitimate concerns about a coach being able to speak to the press and Quebecois fans directly and what the people of the province want the identity of their team in the future to be. When looking for a new head coach, I think these are certainly issues to consider.

That’s just it though, the Habs are STILL looking for a new head coach. Cunneyworth is an INTERIM head coach. Write all the columns you want about not retaining his services after the year but when they’ve said he’s a temp and there are no obvious French speaking choices at the ready this level of outrage seems excessive.

Hey, the way Tampa is sucking it up Guy Boucher may be available for next season.