November 18, 2010
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Why Halak-it Still
Jaroslav Halak had a bad game last night. Actually, the last few games have been bad. Unlike a noisy segment of Habs fans, I was very saddened by this. I’ve always despised the Team Halak vs Team Price crap. Forced to choose, of course I sided with Carey, but I wasn’t happy about it.
I’m the kind of fan who loves the team for everything that it is, and everything it aspires to become. Last spring, the Habs aspired to become more than just a bottom seeded team that limped into the playoffs by scouring that last precious point by losing to the Leafs (of all teams) in over time. They aspired for greatness. And with Halak between the pipes, they overthrew the top seeded team, and the previous Stanley Cup champions. They lit the town on fire, and brought the entire Habs franchise back to life. Although Price became “my goalie” the year he was drafted, it was Halak who drew me back into NHL hockey.
I stopped watching NHL hockey after the lock out. I thought the lock out was stupid. This wasn’t a fight to protect the little guy from big bad corporate. This was a ridiculous standoff between MILLIONAIRES who wouldn’t budge and penalized the fan base with their stubbornness. I grew to despise the institution that administered Canada’s sport. I still haven’t really forgiven them.
source: http://tux.crystalxp.net/png/pepe321-habs--16815.pngI became the kind of Habs fan that watched the stats to keep tabs on our progress, but I refused to watch the games. I knew that Carey was our star even when he wasn’t shining so bright. I also kept tabs on Patrick Roy until he retired because he was the reason I loved hockey at all. He was my childhood hero. Joe Sakic was my captain because he brought the Olympic gold in men’s hockey back to where it belongs. But with their retirements, I had no one other than Carey to care about. So I didn’t watch NHL hockey and got my fill every 4 years watching Olympics.
source: http://is.gd/hlVkSEverything changed this spring. The Habs were in the playoffs. Of course I was happy. But I had no expectations. I pegged them for gone in 5 against the Caps. The Caps have Ovechkin and they were the top seed. Carey wasn’t doing too well. And although I noticed Halak during the Olympics, I didn’t believe that he could pull the team if Carey couldn’t.
Being wrong was probably the best thing that ever happened.
Halak was on fire!! And that sparked my fire. Je suis canadienne. Hockey is in my blood. It was Halak’s fire that melted the angry ice that kept me from watching NHL hockey. So I watched every game that I could as he stood behind a team that trounced the Caps and the Penguins. While I was on holiday in my hometown of Montreal, I bought a red Cammalleri t-shirt and a blue Halak shirt. I wanted a Price shirt, but they didn’t have any. I trained my dog to jump up on her hind legs whenever I cheered for the Habs or Cammalleri. Cammy became my new Sakic (although Cammy is not the captain).
When Halak’s trade was announced, I almost screamed out loud. I was at work. I saw @CanadiensMTL tweet that Halak had been traded. I immediately retweeted and added a “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!”. I called all my friends who were Habs fans and everybody freaked. It wasn’t a logical reaction. It was emotional. I understood the reasons – particularly after they signed Plekanec. But it was hard to let go because the single reason I came back to watching NHL hockey just got dumped from my team.
I had all summer to come to terms with it. It wasn’t easy. But I managed. I never wanted Price to fail. I never switched sides. Price was still my goalie. But Halak had earned a special place in my heart. So yes... I get upset when people compare them. Halak’s success or failure is not linked to Price’s... and vice versa. In fact, it has very little bearing on anything related to Price’s performance.
Last night, Halak let in seven goals – one of which he scored on himself. The haters on Twitter were mean, because they’re fucking assholes. Think about if this had happened in the Bell Centre – if any Habs goalie had scored on himself. The fans would’ve lynched him. Playing in Montreal can be as incredibly rewarding as it can be unbearably painful. The pressure has broken many excellent players. And mostly because of haters like this.
I will always cheer for Halak (except when he plays the Habs), and I hope he finds his way out of this funk to show everyone just how great of a goalie he is. Just as Pricey has finally shut up his haters and naysayers in Montreal, I know Halak will be able to shut up his set of haters too.
source: http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Ottawa+Senators+v+Montreal+Canadiens+QsfEdLd1EPbl.jpgJARO!!!
I believe!!!!!!!
