Saku Koivu Returns From Cancer Ovation (04-09-2002) 

top 10 greatest hockey moments of all time

Legend has it that crowd is still cheering.

To me this was greater than a "feel good hockey story". It was a story about humanity, and a man's triumph over a cruel disease. Not sure how many people realize this, when he was first diagnosed he was given a 50/50 chance of survival! His response to this was "I'll be back before the season ends!! Amazing! Unreal!

was diagnosd with cancer in 2001,i was 4,watched this moment with my family cancer free the next year,tearing up a lot right now

That's the 20,000 you could actually hear, we were millions in our homes also cheering for this brother. Incredible, powerful moment! Go HABS Go!

Story time : i was at that game. had 4 tickets in the reds and went with 2 friends of mine and my gf. while the ovation was going, one of my friend was in a lineup waiting for hotdogs and missed it all. i was screaming and cheering as loudly as i can. i remember vividly that everytime i cranked it up, the crowd cranked it up also. pure madness. the habs won the game and a playoff spot on that day, the first in 4 years. still have the match sheet in a binder, along with the ticket stub.

This kills me every time ....as a montrealer makes me love my city .

One of the finest NHL stories of all time, not only because I'm Finnish, not only because Saku beat cancer and came back to play and raised hell, but because of the fans who were amazing. He is one of our national treasures, any Habs fan is a friend of mine.

What Saku has is "sisu", what we finns call it. It's something that no matter how bad your situation is, you'll never give up fighting

That level of adoration and respect, very few men will experience in their lifetime.

Toronto fan here, love that Ottawa joined with habs fans to help make this special for Saku. I also love that every time the announcer talked, the cheers got louder to drown him out 😆.

This and Mario's return make me always cry. Such a moment.

This was truly remarkable. Surviving is a great story; coming back to play elite level hockey within the season after being diagnosed is incredible.

This night we all beat cancer

Iconic moment for NHL, Finnish hockey and Canadiens

This still sends shivers down my spine.

This is why im a die hard habs fan , What a great moment . Go habs go

What's not said in this video is the Habs won the 8th and final playoff spot on that emotional night, leading to yet another playoff series against their forever archrivals the Bruins... which they defeated in six games, with Koivu being a leading scorer with 2G 5A

I’m a leaf’s fan and I still get chills when I see this. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

Love how they quiet the announcer every time he tries to get them to listen to the anthem

Montreal Canadian fans are the best fan base in the world out of any sport in the world. This is coming from a Leafs fan. 🍻

I was there at this game, in the box seats. People really did cheer right through the anthem. I remembered thinking that they might never stop, haha. What an amazing moment to have witnessed live!

Saku! My favorite player as a kid for whatever reason. Always exciting watching him play. Watching him from Rookie, injuries, team captain, and this, he will always be my favorite. A true role model.

Montreal fans are so nice and so loving. I met some canadians in Thailand that year. When it occured that I was from Finland and I was a hockey fan we became friends immediately

He is loved so much in the city and the team, wish he could have retired ba Hab

It makes me cry every time.

22 years later and I still get goosebumps.

First Finnish born C - Captain of any NHL / LNH - Team ! This moment was - Surely was noticed at the other side of Atlantic too ! Merci - Kiitos - Thank You

Montreal embraced saku and forever loves him. Canadians sure know how to make an ovation.

as a leaf fan...i had goose bumps on that evening watching this...and once again just now 22 yrs after...what a man on and off the ice...and a ninja fighting cancer...every one's hero and a prime example of a humble individual...many respects SAKU!!!!

I was at this game and still get goosebumps watching this…

The little Viking returns. Epic moment I'm a Leafs fan, Super Mario and Saku's return are some of my best hockey memories. MTL. You guys are nothing but love.

esti que je manque Saku

i remember i was cying watching it... it was just mindblowing :)

Montréal's spirit right there!

The people who disliked this video must be fans of cancer. Seek help.

The greatest sports fans, congratulations to Saku Koivu for winning the battle against cancer something we don't see often.

Saku is a dude - so much respect.

God bless you Saku 🙏❤️

Cancer is the fight that anybody can relate on, saku was feeling a big shy cause the attention was on him but I think the attention was on the common fight that we will maybe face someday that is cancer

This might be the greatest non-goal or win hockey moment of all time. Even as a leafs fan i get chills down my spine when saku steps on the ice.

SE moment me donne encore plus de frisson que la coupe de 93!!!!! sa pis l ovation du rocket probablement les 2 best moment du hockey que j ai connut!!!

If you get that response in Montreal from French Canadians, you know, that you are loved...

I fucken cry every time man

I was 14 days old when that happened😁

0:52 a wild Jay Baruchel appears!

Amazing

thanks for this upload mate great work

I mean, I know he got the best treatment possible that not everyone could always afford. Still a fucking feels-good story, kudos to Koivu for beating cancer. He'll always be my captain.

Amazing.

Amazing… just amazing…

Say what you will about Habs fans, they sure know how to honor thier own! 💪🏽

Not one person with their stupid ass phone out... Miss those days.

What a moment , I will never forget his day . Go habs go

I’m not crying, you’re crying.

On l’aimais tu notre Saku!!!

The habs have the best fans hands down

I still have a rookie card of his somewhere here

Fans gave Koivu an eight-minute standing ovation when he skated onto the Molson Centre ice for the first time on April 9, 2002, in the team's 80th game of the season. Koivu helped the team to gain a playoff spot and they went on to beat the top-seeded Boston Bruins in six games

❤

The return of the little viking is a great memory of that time.

i'm an oilers fan and i really don't like the habs, but... wow. just wow. incredible reception and incredible grit from koivu.

Awesome. Wish the French media wasn't so disrespectful towards him.

did they win this game

I dont miss these Ottawa jerseys tbh

0:54 is that jay baruchel?

SAKU WAS MUCH BETTER PLAYER THAN HIS BORTHER

did he have good or bad hodgkins?

Sisu

SAKU WAS MUCH BETTER PLAYER THAN HIS BROTHER

if it was a guy from the other team the mtl fans would boo. that's who they are.

As a Finn i get tiers every time I watch this... It's crazy how much respect and love Koivu had in Montreal ❤️🤍💙

Habs fans are the best… hats of from Sweden 💙💛💙…💙🤍❤️

Beliveau @2:53❤