NHL players on Canadian teams are eager to see the fans return

Nick Suzuki doesn’t think he’s ever skated faster.

The Montreal Canadiens centre had played 61 consecutive regular-season and playoff contests inside cavernous arenas devoid of spectators.

Then things changed, if only a little. But it certainly meant more than Suzuki could have ever imagined.

The Quebec government lifted some of its COVID-19 restrictions — among them a provincewide curfew — in late May, allowing the Canadiens to welcome 2,500 fans into the Bell Centre for Game 6 of their first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“I felt unbelievable,” Suzuki said of playing in front of just 12 per cent capacity. “The energy that they created for us was amazing.

“I don’t know how we played without them, to be honest.”

It was a long winter and spring of 2021 for National Hockey League players and fans in Canada. While arenas in the U.S. gradually opened as coronavirus vaccine rates ramped up, venues stayed almost entirely shut north of the border thanks to a slower rollout and more stringent regulations.

Montreal beat Toronto in overtime in that first NHL game in Canada with paying fans since March 2020, and after winning Game 7 on the road two nights later to complete the comeback from a 3-1 series deficit, would again suit up in front of 2,500 supporters twice in the Canadiens’ equally surprising second-round sweep of the Winnipeg Jets.

Attendance was boosted to 3,500 fans for both the third round against Vegas and the Stanley Cup final with the Tampa Bay Lightning, who downed Montreal in five games for their second straight title.

“I kind of felt numb because we didn’t have fans for such a long period,” Suzuki said, looking back on that first night when faces returned to the crowd. “I was like, ‘Maybe it’s the same.’ Then all of a sudden we had them back ... it changes the whole atmosphere.”

Canadian NHL teams are set for fans to return this season as the league resumes an 82-game schedule and its regular division setup.

The seven franchises only played against each other until the semifinals last season because of border restrictions, meaning blaring music and artificial noise took the place of 20,000 voices inside arenas.

“Definitely excited to have the fans back in the building,” Calgary Flames winger Andrew Mangipane said. “And not hearing the fake crowd noise.”

Toronto welcomes Montreal to Scotiabank Arena in exhibition play Saturday — Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment announced Friday capacity will be 50 per cent after Ontario loosened restrictions — for the venue’s first event with paying customers since March 10, 2020.

“Oh my God, we missed it so much,” Toronto winger William Nylander said. “You know how much the team loves the fans, what the fans mean to us, and what we mean to the fans.

“It’ll be so nice to have them back.”

The Ottawa Senators hope to host a capacity crowd for their opener, while the Jets expect to play in front of full houses this season. The Vancouver Canucks are limited to 50 per cent capacity as things stand, but the team has said it hopes restrictions will be eased.

The Flames and Edmonton Oilers are allowed to fill their arenas despite Alberta being under a state of public health emergency due to a COVID-19 surge, while the Canadiens are permitted to play in front of 33 per cent of normal capacity.

Each NHL rink in Canada will require proof of vaccination for fans to attend, save for Edmonton’s Rogers Place, which is also accepting a negative COVID-19 test.

Players were asked repeatedly before the pandemic-shortened season how they would deal with the empty buildings. Most put on a brave face and talked about being professionals with the ability to self-motivate, but it was more difficult than expected in a jam-packed season with little downtime.