The Bell Center might not have the ghosts that the Montreal Forum used to have, but the building is still a very special one. 

That’s the building that saw Saku Koivu comeback from cancer. The building that exploded for Georges St. Pierre when he won his UFC title back. And of course, the building that saw so many great hockey moments, such as the Montreal Canadiens’ 100th anniversary or more recently, the 4 Nations Face-Off game between Canada and USA. 

Last year, the building also held its first PWHL game. And created another huge moment when the sold-out crowd gave Montreal’s captain Marie-Philip Poulin an ovation that everyone still remembers. 

“When they announced Pou (Marie-Philip Poulin), I was just fighting back, like, a little bit of emotion there,” explained coach Kori Cheverie after a shorter-than-usual practice on Friday morning. “Because you know, I've seen it all. I've lived through it all. I've lived through all the moments of women's hockey since I fell in love with the game. And so, to be in that moment, it was like I could feel it for all of them because I had been dreaming of that my whole life.”

Veteran Laura Stacey was on the starting line-up last year against Toronto and it’s a memory she will reminisce forever. 

“I will never forget my first shift playing at the Bell Centre. Me, Kristin (O’Neill) and Marie (Poulin) were on the line together and we literally had a 15-second shift, dumped it in, all came back to the bench and said, ‘Oh my gosh!’ Like, we had to just take a deep breath. We couldn't breathe. There was like so much happening, so many emotions. Especially after that standing ovation that Marie got on the starting lineup. It was incredible. You see people crying in the stands. I think we were so full of emotions that we had no sense of what our body was doing out there. So, we were just like, okay, get it in, get off and take a deep breath. And honestly, once that first shift was under our belt, we all sat there, we talked about it, got our feelings out and we're like, okay, now it's a hockey game, nothing's new. Let's like kind of keep our heads and our hearts in between the boards here and just focus on the game.”

Nothing like Sweden

Newcomers such as Jennifer Gardiner and Lina Ljungblom are part of a group of 10 players who didn’t have the chance to live that game last year. 

“Yeah, I feel like, from what I've heard, it's the loudest building that some players have ever played in and probably will ever play in,” said Gardiner, who was on the ice last week for the skills competition with the Montreal Canadiens. “So, I'm just expecting what Montreal always brings, and it’s an incredible environment to every single game. And, yeah, we know the place is going to be rocking and hopefully we can deliver a good game for the fans there.”

Before joining the PWHL, the largest crowd Lina Ljungblom played for in Sweden was something like 6,000 fans. Quite the difference with what will happen on Saturday.

“I think we're just trying to enjoy it. Like it's a lot of fans there and I heard that they are really loud. I think if I prepare differently, it gets bigger in my head than it actually is because it's a normal game. I need to try to play my best game and also, really try to enjoy it because it's a really big opportunity to play this game.”

“It’s okay to take it in!”

Despite being there last year, Laura Stacey realizes that the Bell Center game is something special for everyone. But at the end of the day, the goal stays the same: to win a hockey game!

“I think we're still excited. It is another game, but obviously there's a lot to it. Playing in front of that big of a crowd. So obviously a record-breaking moment last year. It still gives us shivers thinking about it, talking about it. So, I think we're just excited. We're going to be in the moment, we're going to take it all in, we're going to look around in warm ups, we're going to celebrate it, we're going to enjoy it. And then when that puck drops, we know we're playing Boston. It's a good team. Three points on the line. They matter. Every point matters. So, it's another hockey game.”

As the player’s representative and part of the leadership group, Stacey has been asked about that game and her advices couldn’t be wiser. 

“I think everybody's seen it online, everybody's heard about it. It was pretty hard to miss that game last year. And it's okay to take it in. It's okay to look into the stand, see the signs, have those shivers, get those butterflies. Those are all good feelings. It means you're excited, it means you want it. And so, I think that's what it's going to be. It's like, hey, go out there, take it all in, look into the crowd, see your family, see those 20,000 something fans in the stands, take it all in. And then as soon as the puck drop, take a deep breath. It's just the same game that we've been practicing since we were kids. It's the same game that we love. Go out there and play your game because nothing changes once that puck drops.”

Dubois and Laskova status

For a rare time this season, before a game, Kori Cheverie gave some information about the status of two of her players and if they are going to play at the Bell Center: Catherine Dubois and Dominika Laskova. 

“Dubois had a white jersey on, so that's positive for us,” said Cheverie with a grin in her face. “You know, she helps us on the ice, but I would never tell you guys the roster before. The players don't know right now.”

Still, the smile in Cheverie’s face made the reporters on site think that Dubois would, in fact, be playing. Coach Cheverie usually doesn’t show any emotion while talking about injured players and their status.

Regarding Dominika Laskova, who’s been activated, but hasn’t played yet, the question was asked differently.

“Do you think that the Bell Center game would be the right one to bring her back in?”

And Cheverie’s answer seems to indicate that she will not start her defense player. 

“Probably not. She hasn't played a game yet, so maybe putting her in a situation where it’s going to be the loudest, biggest game of the year probably doesn't set players up for much success. So, we'll see. The roster isn't determined yet, but yeah, we'll see.”