First Edition of Hockey 911 Raises Over $400,000

Hockey legends and sports physicians come together for the CODE LiFE campaign

On October 2, 2019, the Montreal General Hospital Foundation held its first edition of Hockey 911, a fundraising event featuring hockey legends such as Bob Gainey, Yvan Cournoyer, Chris Nilan, Trent McCleary, Serge Savard and Scotty Bowman alongside Montreal General Hospital doctors who work with Montréal Canadiens hockey players. This event raised more than $400,000 to support the MGHF’s CODE LiFE Campaign.

Stitches, dislocated shoulders, broken ribs: no problem. Playing in pain has always been a part of professional hockey. So, it’s no surprise that players and doctors share a special bond!

Following the format of a hockey game and hosted by none other than Gregory Charles and Michel Lacroix, players and their doctors shared memorable moments, tales of bravery, tragic accidents and funny anecdotes. Attendees got to understand the one-of-a-kind bond between players and doctors and learn more about the long-standing relationship between the Montréal Canadiens and the Montreal General Hospital.

This premier Hockey 911 event paid homage to Dr. Douglas Kinnear (1927–2019). Dr. Kinnear, or “Doc” as he was affectionately called, led the Montréal Canadiens’ medical team from 1962 to 1999, keeping the Habs in fighting shape as they won 12 Stanley Cups. Together with Dr. David Mulder, he helped Serge Savard and Larry Robinson recover from leg fractures. During one of his first evenings on call as doctor for the Canadiens, he saved Lou Fontinato’s life after a terrible fall on the ice. Dr. Kinnear also displayed his expertise in gastroenterology when he developed a concoction to relieve Ken Dryden’s indigestion, as the goalie often vomited before games.

Honouring Dr. Douglas Kinnear

“Dr. Kinnear was a pioneer at the Montreal General Hospital in many ways,” reminisces Dr. Mulder, a former protégé of Dr. Kinnear’s. “He also forged strong bonds between the Montréal Canadiens and our hospital.”

For 100 years, the Montréal Canadiens have entrusted the Montreal General Hospital’s medical teams to care for the players whenever they play in Montreal. Formerly at the Forum, and now at the Bell Centre, trauma experts, orthopedic specialists and sports physicians attend every game and are ready to spring into action in case of injury. This has been the case since emergency medical standards were implemented in the National Hockey League (NHL).

The Montreal General Hospital houses the only trauma centre in downtown Montreal, the Dr. David S. Mulder Trauma Centre, as well as a Centre of Excellence in Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. These world-renowned centres of expertise have delivered cutting-edge care to Canadiens players, and more importantly, the entire community, for over a century.

So, it was a natural choice to bring together legendary hockey players to support the Montreal General Hospital Foundation’s CODE LiFE campaign. Funds raised at this unique event will go towards renovating the MGH’s trauma centre and operating rooms, as well as supporting multiple McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) research programs.