MONTREAL -- A beautiful day greeted the 22 teams participating in the 2022 Hockey de Rue tournament, an annual fundraiser hosted by The Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation and the Sylvan Adams YM-YWHA in Côte-des-Neiges.  

Over $200,000 was raised by the 232 participants, putting the total funds raised at over $2.5M since the tournament's inception. 

72 of the players hailed from schools located near outdoor rinks built in underprivileged areas by the Foundation on the Island of Montreal.

The hard work and dedication of 50 volunteers ensured the day went off without a hitch, and thanks to their tireless effort it was a very special day full of surprises.

Not only were Cosmo and Youppi! on-site to take pictures and stoke the imagination of the many children involved in the tournament, several Canadiens alumni took part, including Pierre Dagenais, Mathieu Dandenault, Gilbert Delorme, Normand Dupont, Rick Green, Stephane Richer and Richard Sévigny, giving fans an opportunity to enjoy some first-hand action with former NHLers.

And the fun didn't end there.

There was one more surprise in store, a surprise that immediately lit up the faces of the children enjoying the safe atmosphere provided by the Foundation.

"Wow! It's Nick Suzuki ! It's Jonathan Drouin !" exclaimed the excited children that immediately lined up for autographs.

Tweet from @CanadiensMTL: ������@hockeyderue | @CHCFondation pic.twitter.com/JM8mFxZkLk

Suzuki, who is staying in Montreal for the majority of the summer, noted the importance of participating in community-driven events.

"I haven't really had a chance to do it in the last few years," said Suzuki. "So any opportunity is a lot of fun to meet people around the city."

Suzuki will be keeping his skills sharp by practicing in Brossard, though he was ready to put his talent to the test at the Hockey de rue tournament.

"It depends how competitive they are," Suzuki joked. "If it gets pretty heated, I'll pick it up a notch. The last time I played was in Junior, so we'll see."

But despite the confidence, Drouin wasn't convinced Suzuki could score at will on the opposing goaltender, who happened to be wearing yellow gear. 

"I don't know Nick," he said. "That looks like a mini-Fleury. This is going to be tough."

Tweet from @CanadiensMTL: Bien s��r, @nsuzuki_37 est ��galement habile lorsqu'il s'agit de hockey-balle. 😅Of course Nick is also slick when it comes to ball hockey.#GoHabsGo | @CHCFondation pic.twitter.com/Rz1vxZSOj8

As the players made their way through the crowds, they signed countless shirts and took hundreds of pictures, but more importantly, they took the time to engage at a grass-roots level with their loyal fans. 

"It's very important to bond with the community," said Suzuki. "I probably would have gone nuts if an NHL player showed up to my ball hockey game when I was a kid, so this is pretty fun."

According to all children on site, it was indeed a special day, and the smiles on their faces confirm fun was had by all.

Both Drouin and Suzuki had received several trade offers, including a few potential deals involving candy for a jersey or a puck, a familiar transaction for Suzuki.

In fact, he accumulated such an impressive stash of candy throughout the year from trading with fans that he eventually had to donate the goodies to Martin St-Louis' son. 

We'll have to wait and see whether that'll curry favour with the head coach.

One thing is certain, both Suzuki and Drouin found a perfect way to create great memories for countless children, not to mention supporting a great cause in the process.

The Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation is determined to provide a better and healthier future for children in need. By uniting the members of the great Canadiens family and by teaming up with the community, the Foundation encourages physical activity and the adoption of a healthy lifestyle among underprivileged youth aged 4 to 17 years old.

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