Dozens of Montreal Canadiens followers gathered at Toronto Pearson Airport to chant Ivan Demidov‘s title as he arrived in Canada after an extended flight from Russia Thursday evening.
Wearing Habs jerseys, they are saying they needed to catch a glimpse and welcome the 19-year-old they hope turns into the staff’s subsequent star participant.
“I haven’t seen it like this in a really, very very long time,” mentioned Sick Media co-owner Julianna Cavallaro.
Cavallaro was there along with her brother and father. On the final minute, they determined to stream Demidov’s arrival on podcast host and sports activities speak radio character Tony Marinaro’s X account.
“We had been shocked at how many individuals tuned in,” she mentioned of the lots of of hundreds of viewers.
Demidov was filmed leaving the airport to satisfy up together with his new teammates sporting an enormous smile on his face –and followers in Montreal are much more giddy.
The Russian participant simply wrapped up his season taking part in for Saint Petersburg in Russia’s skilled hockey league.
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He led the staff in scoring and notching a number of spotlight reel objectives.
The Canadiens picked him fifth total in final 12 months’s draft, however he needed to play out his contract in Russia earlier than becoming a member of the staff.
Now with the Habs on the cusp of a playoff berth — he’s right here.
“That is very a lot among the best gamers to be drafted on this decade,” mentioned Marco Damico from RG, a data-driven sports activities information and evaluation web site.
Followers had been eagerly monitoring Demidov’s flight from his dwelling nation to Turkey, the place he accomplished his paperwork to come back to North America.
His quantity 93 jersey is offered out on the Canadiens web site earlier than he has even put his on.
Some followers advised International they fear the scrutiny may get to him, including that this quantity of strain positioned on the younger participant may have an effect on his efficiency. Others mentioned they hope he doesn’t get too caught up in Montreal’s well-known nightlife.
However Damico, who got an exclusive interview with Demidov earlier this week, thinks he’s prepared for the highlight.
“That is a person that eats and breathes hockey, and was very comfy with going to play for Montreal.”
International’s Habs columnist Brian Wilde agrees. “That’s why he’s an amazing hockey participant. He loves the strain.”
Wilde joined International Information Morning in Montreal on Friday and advised host Laura Casella that travelling to a participant to greet them upon arrival and make them really feel liked is commonplace in Europe, the place followers usually do this for soccer gamers.
He added that the 19-year-old will solely be a part of the staff on the ice on Monday night on the Bell Middle towards the Chicago Blackhawks. Tickets for that sport are going for over $1,000 on resale websites.
The staff has not made the playoffs since 2021. Quite a few situations will nearly actually assure their playoff spot this 12 months.
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