Hockey fans in Alex Newhook’s home province are turning local bars into mini Bell Centres, gathering to cheer their hometown hero as he drives the Montreal Canadiens to the Eastern Conference final.
At the Newfoundland Embassy in St. John’s, the band rushed to the TV between songs Monday night to watch Game 7 against the Buffalo Sabres. Co-owner Niall Hickey said everyone was there for Newhook-mania, and the hometown star delivered-scoring 11:22 into overtime to seal a 3-2 win. It was his second series-clinching goal in a Game 7 this postseason.
Even a few Toronto Maple Leafs fans joined in, though they were reluctant to admit it.