Greatest hockey team EVER!

Tonight marks the centenary -- the 100th anniversary -- of the first-ever hockey game played by the team that eventually became the Montréal Canadiens. The Habs, as they are affectionately known, are regarded by Canadians as the greatest team in the history of the sport.

The Historica-Dominion Institute (where one of Walt's agents lurks) just released a poll in which 47% of respondents called les Glorieux the "greatest hockey team in history". 33% consider Montréal the country's national hockey team, with the Toronto Maple Leafs placing second.

Ice hockey [is there another kind? ed.] is not as well-known or well-regarded as some other sports, such as soccer, in countries like Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Walt was saddened to learn that most people in such places have never heard of the greatest sport of all.

Nevertheless, Canadians believe that the Canadiens are not just the greatest hockey team ever, but one of the greatest teams in any organized sport. 65% of us believe the Habs rank right up there with the New York Yankees and Manchester United, who engage in other so-called sports.

"To a large number of Canadians, hockey is Canada and the Montreal Canadiens are hockey's greatest success story," said the Historica-Dominion Institute's Andrew Cohen. "Our love of the Habs is strong even 100 years after their creation, 17 seasons after their last Stanley Cup and in a league with 30 franchises including six in Canada."

You can catch the 100th anniversary game, between today's not-so-hot Habs and arch-rivals Boston, this evening on CBC-TV. Will Don Cherry just for once admit the historic greatness of Montréal? Will the players still be awake after two hours of pre-game videos and ceremonies? Tune in and find out!