Canadiens’ Hutson Spends Time With The Kids

The Montreal Canadiens had a day off on Sunday, but defenseman Lane Hutson spent time on the Bell Centre ice. He wasn’t working on his game solo; he was there for the NHL First Shift program.

The NHL/NHLPA First Shift program is aimed at children ages 6 to 10 who have never played minor hockey in Canada or participated in the First Shift program. It aims to make hockey fun, accessible, safe and affordable.

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On Sunday, two groups of children spent 60 minutes skating on the Bell Centre ice. Participants thought they were skating on the Bell Centre ice; they had no idea Hutson was joining tham. Of course, Youppi! was also present; you cannot have a kids’ activity without the Canadiens’ mascot.

Abi Leard’s 9-year-old daughter, Aria, took part in the second 60-minute slot and was delighted to see the star defenseman join them on the ice. The youngster was so impressed that she couldn’t stop talking about the experience long after it ended, and she was getting ready for a show-and-tell on Tuesday.

Hutson was generous with his time, skating along, chatting with the kids, and posing for several pictures with the young participant. It’s great to see the defenseman so invested in the community and embracing Montreal. While some American players are looking for a way out of Canada, Hutson signed an eight-year deal to remain in Montreal and has been a joy to have in town.

During the Canadiens’ Christmas break last season, Hutson also surprised fans at a Bleu, Blanc, Bouge outside rink and played shinny hockey with those who were there, even recruiting Ivan Demidov to join him the second time he went. These young players are absolute gems in a market and fully understand how important hockey is in Montreal and how much fans love the game.

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