Demidov fever: New Montreal Canadiens sniper bringing fanfare frenzy

The 19-year-old Russian player will join the team on the ice on Monday evening in a highly anticipated first game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Dozens of Montreal Canadiens fans gathered at Toronto Pearson Airport to chant Ivan Demidov‘s name as he arrived in Canada after a long flight from Russia Thursday night.

Dressed in Habs jerseys, they say they wanted to catch a glimpse and welcome the 19-year-old they hope becomes the team’s next star player.

“I haven’t seen it like this in a very, very long time,” said Sick Media co-owner Julianna Cavallaro.

Cavallaro was there with her brother and father. At the last minute, they decided to stream Demidov’s arrival on podcast host and sports talk radio personality Tony Marinaro’s X account.

“We were stunned at how many people tuned in,” she said of the hundreds of thousands of viewers.

Demidov was filmed leaving the airport to meet up with his new teammates sporting a huge smile on his face –and fans in Montreal are even more giddy.

The Russian player just wrapped up his season playing for Saint Petersburg in Russia’s professional hockey league.

He led the team in scoring and notching several highlight reel goals.