Story Summary
The Stanley Cup and Montreal Canadiens mascot Youppi! visited Ecole primaire Sainte-Marie in Saint-Boniface as the first stop on the Cup’s tour through the Kraft Hockeyville-winning community. Pupils aged 5-12 had the day away from classes and, by mid-morning, the Cup was displayed in the school gym. Youppi! arrived shortly afterwards as part of activities connected to the Canadiens’ pre-season visit to the region, which includes a game against the Ottawa Senators at Colisee Videotron in Trois-Rivieres on Monday (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN1, NHLN).
Sainte-Marie principal Stephane Lajoie said the visit felt “magical” for the pupils and rewarding for staff who shared the moment. Children were playing ball hockey outside, while another pupil was stickhandling in a hallway, before the Cup was presented at 10 a.m. The event was emceed by Sylvain Bouchard, wearing No. 11 in the colours of the Saint-Boniface Boum of the Saint-Boniface Minor Hockey Association. Bouchard and his wife, Nathalie Bourbonnais, moved to Saint-Boniface in 2000 when the arena opened and have remained involved in local hockey and skating.
Lajoie, who worked as an educational consultant for Shawinigan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 2010-20, said his time in junior hockey taught him the wider disciplines around being an athlete. He recalled working with players including Frederick Gaudreau – now a Seattle Kraken forward entering his 10th NHL season – and future NHL players Anthony Beauvillier, Michael Bournival and Samuel Girard. Lajoie said the lessons of sport – discipline, nutrition and community responsibility – are values he brings into the school.
Beyond the school gym, Hockeyville activities included visits to Villa Mille Soleils, a residence for the elderly, photo opportunities with local firefighters outside Arena de Saint-Boniface, and a supermarket surprise at L’Intermarche to honour the legacy of the late Rejean Gervais and his family, who were among the arena’s original builders. Sophie Milette, owner of Portes Milette Doors, enabled employees to spend time with the Cup in recognition of her contributions to community events and gatherings.
The community celebration continues through the weekend, with red-carpet arrivals for the Senators and Canadiens on Monday. Lajoie said pupils and staff will attend morning skates and the game, with six buses filled and additional families travelling. That evening, a group of about 40 will sing ” O Canada.” For Saint-Boniface, the Hockeyville visit combined the showpiece of the Stanley Cup with longstanding local volunteerism and small-town traditions – an occasion Lajoie described as something the children will ” probably never see again.”
Key Facts
- Ecole primaire Sainte-Marie in Saint-Boniface hosted the Stanley Cup as part of the Kraft Hockeyville tour stop.
- Pupils involved were aged 5-12; some were playing ball hockey around 9:30 a.m., while another was stickhandling in a hallway, and the Cup was displayed at 10 a.m.
- Youppi!, the Montreal Canadiens mascot, made an appearance tied to the team’s pre-season activities in the region.
- The Canadiens are scheduled to play a pre-season game against the Ottawa Senators at Colisee Videotron in Trois-Rivieres on Monday (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN1, NHLN).
- Sainte-Marie principal Stephane Lajoie said, ” It’s magical for them,” and described the visit as an extraordinary moment for students and staff.
- Sylvain Bouchard, emcee of the tour stop, wore No. 11 in the colours of the Saint-Boniface Boum; his wife is Nathalie Bourbonnais.
- Bouchard and Bourbonnais moved to Saint-Boniface in 2000 when the arena opened; both have long ties to local skating and hockey.
- Lajoie worked as an educational consultant for Shawinigan of the QMJHL from 2010-20 and worked with Frederick Gaudreau, Anthony Beauvillier, Michael Bournival and Samuel Girard.
- Hockeyville activities included visits to Villa Mille Soleils (a seniors residence), a firefighters’ photo opportunity outside Arena de Saint-Boniface, and an event at L’Intermarche supermarket.
- The L’Intermarche event honoured the legacy of Rejean Gervais, one of the original builders of Arena de Saint-Boniface; his grandson Martin opened the market with his grandmother, Normande, about 18 months earlier.
- Community support was evident: many local volunteers and businesses contributed time and resources, including Sophie Milette, owner of Portes Milette Doors, who allowed employees a day with the Cup in recognition of community contributions to local events and gatherings.
IHM Discussion
This visit is a classic Hockeyville moment: the Stanley Cup serves as both a symbol and a catalyst, drawing attention to grassroots programmes and the long-standing volunteer networks that keep small-town rinks alive. The sequence at Sainte-Marie – pupils playing ball hockey, a scheduled display of the Cup at 10 a.m., and a mascot entrance tied to an NHL club’s pre-season stop – brings elite hockey iconography into everyday community life. Sylvain Bouchard’s local involvement and Stéphane Lajoie’s junior-hockey background give the visit local coherence.
The story underlines how Hockeyville brings the NHL’s most recognisable trophy into an accessible community celebration while recognising the work behind local arenas. Honouring the Gervais family and involving seniors at Villa Mille Soleils show that the initiative extends beyond youth hockey to recognise intergenerational contributions. For Saint-Boniface, the event rewards volunteers and gives young players a tangible connection to the game.
Why It Matters
The visit offers young pupils a rare, formative experience with hockey’s highest symbol and spotlights the volunteer networks, local businesses and families – including the Gervais family and the Bouchards – whose long-term commitment sustains community arenas. For the NHL, such stops reinforce hockey’s cultural place in Canadian communities beyond major-city markets.
Mini Q&A
What happened at Ecole primaire Sainte-Marie?
The Stanley Cup was displayed in the school gym as part of the Kraft Hockeyville tour, and Montreal Canadiens mascot Youppi! made an appearance for pupils, parents and staff.
Who organised or emceed the visit?
The Cup tour stop was emceed by Sylvain Bouchard, a long-time local volunteer who wore No. 11 in the colours of the Saint-Boniface Boum.
Which NHL teams are involved in the wider visit?
The Montreal Canadiens are featured through their mascot Youppi! and the visit coincides with the Canadiens’ pre-season game against the Ottawa Senators at Colisee Videotron in Trois-Rivieres on Monday (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN1, NHLN).
How did the school describe the experience?
Sainte-Marie principal Stephane Lajoie called the visit ” magical” for the pupils and said it was an extraordinary experience for staff to share with the children.
What community elements were included in Hockeyville activities?
Activities included visits to a seniors’ residence (Villa Mille Soleils), a firefighters’ photo opportunity outside Arena de Saint-Boniface, and an event at L’Intermarche supermarket honouring the legacy of Rejean Gervais and his family.
Coach Mark Comment
A day with the Stanley Cup can give young players a powerful connection to the game, but its lasting value comes from the habits built afterwards. Coaches can use that excitement to reinforce punctuality, nutrition, respect for volunteers and disciplined practice – the standards Lajoie highlighted through his experience in hockey and education.
What Comes Next
The community celebration continues through the weekend, with a red-carpet arrival for the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens on Monday. The Canadiens play a pre-season game against the Senators at Colisee Videotron in Trois-Rivieres on Monday (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN1, NHLN). Lajoie and his pupils are scheduled to attend morning skates and the game, with six buses filled and others travelling with parents; that evening a group of about 40 will sing ” O Canada.”
IHM Final View
Saint-Boniface’s Hockeyville stop delivered a compact reminder of hockey’s social architecture: a symbol of the pro game visiting a town sustained by volunteers, small businesses and multi-generational commitment. For the children at Sainte-Marie, the Cup and Youppi! offered a communal milestone – an experience likely to be retold long after the tour moves on.