Violence after Habs game draws 41 arrests

Canadiens fans celebrate in downtown Montreal on Wednesday following the Habs’ win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 7 NHL Eastern Conference semifinals. (Graham Hugues/Canadian Press)Montreal police state they arrested 41 people after a street party celebrating the Canadiens’ Wednesday night victory turned violent.

Thousands of people who gathered at the Bell Centre to watch Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semi-final took to the streets in sheer joy after the Habs pummelled the Penguins 5-2 in Pittsburgh.

‘We want people to celebrate, but these were criminal acts.’—Police assistant director Sylvain Brouillette

The chanting and dancing escalated around midnight, when a small group started throwing beer bottles at police and smashed store windows.

Eight of the 41 arrested were due in court on Thursday afternoon to face charges of assault with a weapon. Three people were to be formally charged at the main courthouse, with the other five appearing either in municipal or youth court.

The remaining suspects were released after police issued them summonses to appear in court at a later date.

Quebec Premier Jean Charest congratulated police on their work Wednesday night.

“Police, I think, do the ideal they can, but there are people who are not interested in hockey,” he said. “This is not about hockey.”

Violence over fun

Police state only a minority of people partying on the street were responsible for escalating violence that hijacked the boisterous late-night rally.

Thousands of Canadiens fans spilled onto the street to party after the Game 7 win. A few small fires were started. (Graham Hugues/Canadian Press)Most people gathered in a “festive zone” police set up just north of the Bell Centre, where “people were calm and were having fun,” stated police assistant director Sylvain Brouillette at a news conference Thursday morning.

As the night progressed the mood changed along Ste-Catherine Street where police estimate “a few hundred people” chose violence over fun, he said. “They attacked our police officers and bottles were thrown at our officers,” injuring one policewoman and a horse.

Looters smashed a few storefront windows including a Foot Locker retailer.

That’s when police decided to evacuate the street, Brouillette said.

“We want people to celebrate, but these were criminal acts.”

Police stated they felt adequately prepared before Wednesday night’s game, and would think about closing Ste-Catherine Street again for the Eastern Conference final series against either Philadelphia or Boston.

“I have to congratulate our officers for not reacting” and being patient as they faced the violent outburst, Brouillette added.

A liquor store employee cleans up after looters broke in during the Habs’ win celebration on Ste-Catherine Street. (Shawn Apel/CBC)

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