Residents watch Game 4 of second round NHL playoff hockey between the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres at the Old Brewery Mission homelessness resource centre in Montreal on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter McCabe
Resident Allen Hayward reacts during Game 4 of second round NHL playoff hockey between the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres at the Old Brewery Mission homelessness resource centre in Montreal on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter McCabe
Case worker Teo Lapierre Langlais, left, and resident Allen Hayward react during Game 4 of second round NHL playoff hockey between the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres at the Old Brewery Mission homelessness resource centre in Montreal on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter McCabe
Case worker Teo Lapierre Langlais, left, and resident Allen Hayward react during Game 4 of second round NHL playoff hockey between the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres at the Old Brewery Mission homelessness resource centre in Montreal on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter McCabe
Residents watch Game 4 of second round NHL playoff hockey between the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres at the Old Brewery Mission homelessness resource centre in Montreal on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter McCabe
PMC
Resident Allen Hayward reacts during Game 4 of second round NHL playoff hockey between the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres at the Old Brewery Mission homelessness resource centre in Montreal on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter McCabe
PMC
Case worker Teo Lapierre Langlais, left, and resident Allen Hayward react during Game 4 of second round NHL playoff hockey between the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres at the Old Brewery Mission homelessness resource centre in Montreal on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter McCabe
PMC
Case worker Teo Lapierre Langlais, left, and resident Allen Hayward react during Game 4 of second round NHL playoff hockey between the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres at the Old Brewery Mission homelessness resource centre in Montreal on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter McCabe
MONTREAL - Stephane Vallieres remembers going to the old Montreal Forum at age 12 to watch the Canadiens play the Quebec Nordiques like it was yesterday.
On Tuesday night, he was among about two dozen people in the cafeteria of the Old Brewery Mission homelessness resource centre, near Montreal's Chinatown, tuning in to watch Game 4 of the Canadiens' second-round playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres.
Some wore Habs jerseys and hats. Others wore red.
Vallieres said game night is best enjoyed with a group.
鈥淭he atmosphere here, the chemistry 鈥 we鈥檙e here to have a good time,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e watching what everyone likes, and there鈥檚 no arguing.鈥澛
Montrealers have caught hockey fever, and residents of the Old Brewery Mission鈥檚 downtown shelter are no different.聽
While some watched from the cafeteria, others tuned in from the lounges on the upper floors. Even those getting their hair cut by barbers who drop in once a month kept their eyes glued to the screen as they got their trim.
Vallieres is a lifelong Canadiens fan. His face lit up as he spoke about the team鈥檚 roster, saying he believes the team is good enough to bring home the Stanley Cup this year. The 57-year-old played hockey at the bantam level in his youth and said he always donned a Habs jersey with the number 10, belonging to his idol Guy Lafleur.聽
Vallieres was evicted from his apartment two years ago and got a room at the Mission in September as he waits to be approved for the city鈥檚 social housing program. He said events like the NHL playoffs get his mind off things.
Vallieres sat with his friend Allen Hayward, another diehard Canadiens fan who has been at the Mission for four years after losing his job in the construction sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.聽
鈥淚t makes you temporarily forget that you're here, which is a gorgeous thing right there,鈥 he said of game nights.
鈥淚t would be more fun to watch it with these people, but at my apartment."聽
As the Canadiens took the lead in the first period, those gathered to watch the game broke into chants of 鈥淥l茅! Ol茅! Ol茅! Ol茅!鈥 Even those not watching asked fans smoking outside in between periods about the game.
Yolette Jean is used to picking up people who use the Mission鈥檚 drop-in centre 鈥 where people can grab a coffee and food or take a nap 鈥 and driving them to other resources around the city.聽
On Tuesday, barely anyone got in her shuttle, she said.
鈥淚 came to pick people up at Caf茅 Mission, and they said, 鈥楳a鈥檃m, no, no. Oh, we鈥檙e fine here,鈥欌 Jean said. 鈥淭hey said they鈥檙e not interested; they want to watch the game.鈥澛
They asked her if she could bring back any donated Canadiens T-shirts or jerseys.
James Hughes, director of the Mission, said the first thing he heard when he walked in Tuesday morning was, 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be 4-2 tonight!鈥澛
鈥淚t鈥檚 all anyone鈥檚 talking about,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t brings the mood up. It can be dark here. These are people who are isolated and struggling, people who have suffered enormous loss.鈥澛
But for a few hours, they share a common experience and love of the sport 鈥 and maybe even get to win, he adds.
The Old Brewery Mission isn鈥檛 the only place where those experiencing homelessness can catch the game.聽
The CAP St-Barnab茅 and the Welcome Hall Mission run shelters, transitional housing units and emergency service centres across the city. Both say residents love to set up their own viewing parties in the common rooms.聽
鈥淗ockey fever has really taken hold here,鈥 said Michelle Patenaude, the head of CAP St-Barnab茅.聽
Over at the Welcome Hall Mission, residents are typically expected to be back in their rooms and studios by 10 p.m. Director and CEO Sam Watts said game nights are an exception.
He said curfew is extended to make sure those watching the game in the lounges don't miss a thing if the Canadiens go into overtime.聽
鈥淧eople who don鈥檛 have a permanent address are possibly even more passionate about the Habs than I am,鈥 said Watts.聽
This report by 好色tvwas first published May 13, 2026.