Well, as promised, I ventured out and into the downtown core for the day yesterday but found the experience a little underwhelming in terms of hockey fever. I saw a few Habs logos around campus at Concordia University but nothing to indicate a groundswell of support. Several toques, caps and T-shirts and an occasional Habs sweater adorned the folks who will be responsible for supporting me if I have an old age.

Things weren’t any better in commercial establishments either. There were a few banners with Habs and Molson logos in an alcohol dispensing concern within a block of the Bell Centre and a local golden-arched outlet had a number of flat screens and posters featuring special prices on pre-packaged meals.

I dunno, I’m not lovin’ it. The thought is there but, all in all, the food and the company is probably better at home, even if nobody pops in and the menu features a choice of leftovers.

Tonight it’s a road game in Ottawa. Good beer (sponsorship available), adequate leftovers – wings and veggies. OK, poutine – a regional delicacy that involves French fries, a gelatinous, allegedly gravy-based sauce and cheese curds, applied liberally as a topping. No company since it’s a school night and all.

Last year’s Stanley Cup finalists, the 2007-08 edition of the Senators was rolling along, at midseason virtually conceded the division title. Then the wheels fell off. The team drama, centered around goaltender Ray Emery, ended up costing John Paddock his job. The team has fared little better since GM Bryan Murray took over the coaching reins, continuing the free-fall that has seen them post the 28th best record in the NHL since the dawn of the New Year.

They go into tonight’s game against Montreal having lost five of their last seven, while their opponents show the opposite result in their last seven match-ups. The Habs’ dressing room has been relatively drama-free so far this season, with the biggest incidents being rookie forward Mikhail Grabovski going AWOL for a day and a purse-related episode in Florida, all in all no big deal in pro sports terms.

While a number of players have found themselves watching thing from the press box, none have gone public, discussing their fate in terms they may come to regret later. Two-time 30-goal scorer Michael Ryder did his time upstairs without complaining. So did several others more junior in seniority in the early going this season.

Veteran defenseman Patrice Brisebois has suited up only 40 times going into tonight’s game. All but ridden out of town on a rail after the 2003-04 season, the only man on the roster from the 1993 Stanley Cup championship team has come back at a much-reduced salary and with equally reduced expectations.

While no player enjoys his time in the rafters, Brisebois has tolerated his, never protesting and always willing to step in when needed as younger men take the lion’s share of the ice time.

He has also found the time to contribute to the community, becoming a spokesman for an anti-gang campaign spearheaded by the Montreal’s police department.

With the slogan, “Une Gang Pour La Vie” which translates to “A Gang For Life” the campaign, featuring both Brisebois and the music of Montreal rock band, Simple Plan, is aimed at 5th and 6th graders and emphasizes the importance of making the right choices in their lives, even at a young age. One aspect of the program is a poster contest that invited kids to put their feelings about life choices on paper and submit them through their schools.

“Personally, I became involved in the contest because I know just how much choices made early in life can affect someone’s future,” Brisebois told Le Messager de Verdun, a community newspaper, after an elementary school appearance in mid-February.

“My childhood dream was to become a professional hockey player and I made it. I want these kids to believe in their dream and be willing to work to achieve their full potential.”

Among the thing I do to make ends meet, since this freelance writing thing is not anywhere near as remunerative as some might think, is teach school. When someone calls in sick and if they get desperate enough, a school secretary calls and off I go to fill in.

One day my class was scheduled for a session with a local Youth Squad officer. He was a young fellow (OK, thirty-ish. But from my perspective….) and just clicked with the kids. After a brief intro he played the video and took questions afterwards. It was a bit of an eye-opener to find that gangs, taxing and intimidation were not alien concepts to these youngsters.

All in all they probably came away having gained more form their hour with the cop than they did from the rest of the day spent with me. But nothing got broken and nobody bled so they keep calling. They called this morning actually, or this would have been submitted earlier and I wouldn’t have had to mention the game in progress.

Tuning in just in time to catch the first period highlights, it seems that Brisebois has not only started his 41st game but also managed to pick up an assist on the only goal of the period.

It couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.