Petition Gains Momentum After NHL Cancels Canadiens Watch Party in Gatineau, Quebec
Petition draws thousands of signatures after NHL blocks Habs watch party in Gatineau, Que.

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A petition with nearly 6,500 signatures has emerged after the NHL canceled a Montreal Canadiens watch party in Gatineau, Quebec, due to proximity to Ottawa Senators' territory. Fans express disappointment, and organizers seek to challenge the decision.
- 01The canceled watch party was set for the Canadiens' playoff game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Gatineau's Slush Puppie Centre.
- 02The NHL cited exclusive marketing rights for the Ottawa Senators, which extend approximately 50 miles around their arena.
- 03Around 400 tickets had been sold before the cancellation, with proceeds intended for a local mental health organization, Le Boulev'Art de la Vallée.
- 04The petition, initiated by Wassim Aboutanos, aims to highlight the disappointment of Canadiens fans in Gatineau.
- 05Local mental health organization representatives expressed disappointment over the lost fundraising opportunity.
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Fans in Gatineau, Quebec, are expressing their frustration after the NHL canceled a planned watch party for the Montreal Canadiens due to its proximity to the Ottawa Senators' exclusive marketing territory. The event, scheduled for the Slush Puppie Centre, was set to coincide with a playoff game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Nearly 6,500 signatures have been collected on a petition opposing the cancellation, initiated by Wassim Aboutanos, who had organized the event. Ticket sales had begun, with around 400 tickets sold before the NHL intervened, citing a radius of about 50 miles around the Senators' arena as the reason for the cancellation. The event was expected to raise funds for a local mental health organization, Le Boulev'Art de la Vallée, which expressed disappointment over the lost opportunity. Fans, including Katie Labonte, who had purchased tickets for her and her sons, lamented the missed chance to enjoy the playoff atmosphere. The organizers are now considering further actions, including submitting the petition to the NHL and the Senators.
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The cancellation of the watch party impacts local Canadiens fans and a mental health organization that would have benefited from the event's proceeds.
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