Very interesting to see the connection here between hockey and religion. Because religion is a rocky subject in the surrounding area because of the oppressive history it has on the people. Are they saying that hockey has some sort of bondage over the people or were they just being funny?

That is so frustrating. Suspend him for his last three games? So petty. Could have just fined him if he was going to make a statement like that.

Why is the arena their temple and what do they mean by that?

Two years ago, shortly after the minister moved to Montreal, he and one of his students decided the university should offer the opportunity to study whether the Canadiens are, in fact, a faith. The graduate course is open to students in all faculties and those in undergraduate programs. Bauer expects to see more than his usual 10 to 20 people in the class. In addition to the class, Bauer has launched an essay contest asking the question, "Are the Montreal Canadiens a religion?" Jennifer Guyver, Bauer's research assistant, is helping to co-ordinate the symposium and said she was "really excited" to hear that Bauer was organizing the event, titled La Religion du Canadien or The Habs Religion. In Bauer's class, students will compare and contrast the Montreal Canadiens and other religions. Bauer's book has six chapters, one of which was written by Benoît Melançon, author of the book Les Yeux de Maurice Richard. Bauer, who is from Switzerland, has lived in France, French Polynesia and Washington, and said discovering sport has been a way to discover society.