The Bell Centre was electric, but the spotlight didn’t just belong to the legends in the rafters—it found a new home on the ice, where Ivan Demidov skated like a man possessed. On a night when Montreal fans rose as one to honor Andrei Markov with a thunderous ovation, a young Russian winger quietly stole the show, rewriting the narrative of his own career in real time. As the lights glinted off Markov’s honored jersey, Demidov’s eyes burned with the kind of determination that only comes from seeing your dreams reflected back at you, ten thousand voices strong.

Wednesday evening was more than just another hockey game in Montreal. It was a collision of past, present, and future—a moment where the city’s storied history brushed up against its next great hope. Ivan Demidov, wearing number 93, didn’t just play the puck against the Winnipeg Jets; he played with a purpose that seemed to grow with every shift. By the third period, it was clear something extraordinary was unfolding. Not only did Demidov log the highest ice time of his young NHL career, he did it with a flair that had fans and analysts alike scrambling for adjectives. And when the final buzzer sounded, it wasn’t just the Canadiens’ shootout win that had the Bell Centre buzzing—it was the sense that a torch had been passed, if only for a night.

But what was it that set Demidov ablaze on this particular evening? The answer, as revealed in a post-game press conference, was as simple as it was profound: inspiration. Demidov watched as Andrei Markov, his compatriot and one of the most beloved figures in Montreal hockey history, was showered with adoration from the crowd. The standing ovation, the emotional tribute, the palpable respect—it was all fuel for Demidov’s fire. “It motivates me to play as hard as I can. Hopefully I’m gonna have the same as him (one day),” Demidov confessed, his words echoing with both humility and ambition.

For a player whose journey from Russia to the NHL has been marked by flashes of brilliance and moments of struggle, this was a declaration—a promise to himself and to the fans who are beginning to believe. The game itself was a showcase: Demidov recorded a beautiful assist, made smart plays, and was rewarded by coach Martin St-Louis with the kind of ice time usually reserved for veterans. Every stride, every pass, every glance up at Markov’s tribute seemed to add layers to a performance that felt like a breakthrough.

Yet the real story is only beginning. Demidov’s reaction wasn’t just about one night or one game; it was about the future he’s determined to build. As Montreal prepares to face the Maple Leafs in Toronto this Saturday, all eyes will be on the young winger who dared to dream out loud. Is this the start of a legacy worthy of its own standing ovation? Can Demidov turn inspiration into greatness and one day earn a tribute that echoes through the halls of hockey history?

Keep reading, because Ivan Demidov’s journey is no longer just about potential—it’s about chasing the kind of immortality reserved for legends. And if Wednesday night was any indication, Montreal might just be witnessing the rise of its next hero.

Dec 3, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens right wing Ivan Demidov (93) plays the puck against the Winnipeg Jets during the third period at Bell Centre.

Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Wednesday evening, during the matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and the Winnipeg Jets, was a very special night for young Ivan Demidov.

Not only did he probably have the best game of his NHL career, not only did he do it in front of his compatriot Andrei Markov, but he also logged the highest ice time of his career.

In the post-game press conference after the matchup against the Winnipeg Jets, a game in which he recorded a point (a superb assist), young Demidov expressed a wonderful wish.

After what he saw Wednesday night with the superb tribute to Andrei Markov, Ivan Demidov wants to experience such a moment one day

We love it.

The young Montreal Canadiens forward also hopes to become a player worthy of such a tribute (one day).

Ivan Demidov tonight on watching Andrei Markov’s standing ovation by Habs fans at the Bell Centre:

“It motivates me to play as hard as I can. Hopefully I’m gonna have the same as him (one day).”

– Via HabsOnReddit

It is quite an objective, but he is certainly capable of it! In any case, with the game he played against the Winnipeg Jets, I have absolutely no trouble believing him when he says that seeing that scene (the tribute to Andrei Markov) motivated him.

Martin St-Louis rewarded him with strong ice time, and it paid off for the Montreal Canadiens with a solid shootout victory.

Next matchup for Ivan Demidov and his teammates: this Saturday, against the Maple Leafs live from Toronto.