Habs Day at LDVA: Montreal Canadiens pride ignites a new generation ahead of Game 5
Posted April 29, 2026 5:26 pm.
Last Updated April 29, 2026 6:08 pm.
The Montreal Canadiens are set to face the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 5 in Florida. But even with the team on the road, the energy of playoff hockey hasn’t gone anywhere; it’s being carried proudly in Montreal classrooms by students wearing Canadiens colours.
At Leonardo da Vinci Academy in Rivière-des-Prairies, Wednesday’s game became more than just a matchup: it’s a school-wide celebration of pride, community and belief, with students dressed in Canadiens gear or the classic bleu, blanc, rouge.
Habs Day brings the school together
Inside the school, principal Nadia Sammarco says the idea behind “Habs Day” is simple: bring everyone together behind a shared passion.
She says the goal is to channel that excitement directly toward the team on the ice.
“We’re super excited for Game 5 to cheer on our Montreal Canadiens, and we want them to feel our energy and our support.”
A school transformed by playoff spirit
In the gym, the atmosphere shifted from a routine school day to a full playoff rally. The noise built quickly — chants of “Go Habs Go,” “olé, olé, olé,” and bursts of cheering echoing off the walls as students reacted to highlights and each other.
“It’s really all of us coming together to cheer on the team, to talk about their resilience and their perseverance,” said Sammarco.
Grade 5 student Luca summed up the atmosphere in one word: “It was electric and everything.”
Among the most popular moments of the day was caretaker Mike Lento stepping into the spotlight as a goaltender, turning the gym into something closer to a mini arena, with students lining up amid cheers and laughter to take their best shots.
For Lento, the moment captured what the day was all about.
“I just love the way everybody comes together as a family and just enjoys the moment of this exciting sports event. It’s unbelievable to see everybody come together. That’s what’s nice about it.”
A lifelong Canadiens fan, he says the team’s identity resonates throughout the school community.
“I’ve been following them from the beginning, and I love their energy. I love their competitiveness. I just love the whole thing about it.”
But what stands out most to him is the lasting impact on students.
“It’s just seeing them the next day after a game — how they come up to me and say, ‘Wow, did you watch the game? Did you watch the game?’ Everybody just enjoys watching them and how good they are.”
Inspiration from a young team
For vice-principal Joseph Carlucci, the excitement inside the school reflects something bigger than hockey: it reflects connection.
“We’re really excited to have them all here cheering on this incredible run that we’re having in the playoffs.”
He says the current Canadiens roster is helping students see themselves in the game.
“As a former phys-ed teacher, I’m back here in the gym, and it’s really nice to see the kids so excited that such a young team is able to make such a great push in the playoffs. And to see that they’re young as well, and to see a new generation of the Habs, is really nice.”
That sense of shared identity helps define the school’s culture, he adds.
“We have a great school culture here and a great community as well. The fact that we’re all going towards one goal is really, really important. The kids are able to take a break from being in the classroom and really show their passion for such an amazing team. Hopefully this continues into tonight, and hopefully we get a win and move forward to the next round.”
Young fans, strong opinions
Among students, the connection to the Canadiens is both emotional and deeply personal.
Grade 4 student Giuseppe says Habs Day makes the moment even more meaningful.
“It feels good that they’re supporting the Montreal Canadiens and that we’re making them feel good for the game tonight.”
When asked about his favourites, he points to the team’s rising stars.
“Suzuki and Caufield because they play well together, and Caufield reaches 51 goals and Suzuki has reached 101 points in a season.”
He’s confident heading into Game 5.
“They’re going to play well. I have confidence in them that they’re going to win tonight.”
Rocco, also in Grade 4, keeps his belief simple: “I’m very happy that I’m going to be watching the game, and hopefully they’re going to win.”
Belief in the next generation
For older students, the inspiration runs even deeper.
Adriano, in Grade 6, says the school-wide support stands out.
“I feel happy because a bunch of schools probably don’t do this, and I like how they show how many fans we have and how we can support our team.”
He also points to the youth of the roster as a reason for optimism.
“I feel like they’ve done very well so far because they’re one of the youngest teams to ever make the playoffs, and I feel like they have a very good chance. I hope they win.”
Alessio, also in Grade 6, says what stands out most is effort and resilience.
“I feel like so far they’re playing, they’re giving it their all, and they’re trying to show that they’re going to go far. Some mistakes happen, but they continue working hard, and that’s good. I feel like they have a very strong chance. Tonight is an important game, and if they play like they’ve been playing recently, they have a chance to win.”
For him, captain Nick Suzuki stands out.
“He’s the captain, and I look up to him. He has a very similar style of play to mine. He’s a very team-oriented player, not selfish. He makes plays and he’s there to lead his team to the Stanley Cup.”
From costumes to lifelong fandom
The passion extends beyond the rink and into everyday life for many students.
Grade 3 student Adriano proudly showed off a homemade Halloween costume inspired by former Canadiens goaltender Carey Price.
“I made it because I like Carey Price and I really wanted to support the Habs during the season.”
He says that same excitement carries into game day.
“I’m excited and I really hope the Habs will win.”
And when it comes to his personal favourite, he points to the next wave of talent.
“My favourite player is Demidov because I like the way he helps the team score and sets up plays.”
For seven-year-old Sebastian, his favourite players are clear.
“Suzuki and Caufield because Suzuki’s the captain and Caufield scored 50 goals,” he said.
His younger brother also pointed to the same core group, adding: “Caufield and Demidov.”
For Grade 2 student Jade, Cole Caufield stands out above the rest.
“Cole Caufield because he scored 50 goals and I find it pretty cool.”
A shared goal on and off the ice
As the school comes together, one message echoes through every hallway: pride, effort and belief in something bigger than a single game.
Even caretaker Lento sees the long-term picture when reflecting on the team’s future.
“We’re a younger team, we’re going to be better in the long run. We should take it in seven.”
Game 5 on deck
Game 5 between the Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning gets underway tonight at 7 p.m. on Sportsnet.
And inside one Montreal school, the message is already clear: the chants may fade, but the belief doesn’t.
