Montreal’s Samuel De Champlain Bridge is set to display an unusual appearance on Wednesday night.
For Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, the bridge will be illuminated in orange and blue, signaling support for the Edmonton Oilers, the only Canadian team left in the competition.
Martin Chamberland, the director of bridge operations, acknowledged that this decision might not be universally popular in a city deeply devoted to the Montreal Canadiens. However, he explained his motivation was rooted in national pride.
Speaking to the Montreal Gazette on Tuesday, Chamberland stated, “It’s about Canadian pride, to support a Canadian team, to support Canada in general. And especially this year, with what happened with the United States, having a little bit more of Canadian pride is I think a good thing. In general, Canadian nationalism is always good and we’ve had plenty of good comments on our website. For sure there are always haters who complain about everything, but in general people are behind us.”
The Oilers are striving to become the first Canadian team to capture the Stanley Cup since the Canadiens last won it in 1993.
Chamberland confirmed that the bridge would be lit in the Oilers’ colours for each game of the Stanley Cup Final, with the sole exception being Game 2 on Friday, for which the bridge was already scheduled to feature a different light display.
He also indicated that this action is expected to become a standard practice in Montreal moving forward, with the bridge lighting up to honour any major Montreal sports team or another Canadian NHL team that reaches a final.
Nonetheless, Chamberland admitted that one particular Canadian club would cause him to think twice before making such a decision.
“I would not be so sure of myself if it had been the Maple Leafs,” said Chamberland. “But for the Oilers I had no worries. And for the Leafs, I was in Toronto in 2021 (when the Canadiens were in the final), and I saw the CN Tower lit up in the bleu blanc rouge. So if they did it in Toronto, I think we should do it in Montreal. But I would expect more blowback with the Maple Leafs, but our position would’ve been the same.”
Tristan Blackwood