Martin St-Louis showed why he’s more than just a hockey coach today at the Bell Centre, taking a moment to make some young players’ day extra special.
During his regular pre-game press conference, the Canadiens’ head coach paused mid-sentence to acknowledge several top QMJHL prospects who were sitting in the room. He even interrupted veteran broadcaster Martin McGuire to make sure the young players got their moment.
It was a small gesture that spoke volumes about St-Louis’s character.
The main focus of the presser was supposed to be tonight’s lineup changes, particularly the exciting opportunity for Owen Beck, who’s getting a shot on the second line alongside Patrik Laine and Alex Newhook.
St-Louis also covered Jayden Struble’s changing role over the past few weeks and shared his thoughts on how he sees the team finishing up the 2024-25 season.
But it was that unexpected moment of kindness toward the junior prospects that had everyone talking afterward.
For these young players, many of whom grew up watching St-Louis’s Hall of Fame career, getting noticed by him must have felt pretty special. It’s the kind of moment they’ll probably remember long after the details of today’s press conference fade away.
It’s also exactly the sort of leadership you want to see from the coach of hockey’s most storied franchise – someone who understands that sometimes the small moments matter just as much as the big ones.
