There are moments in sports when raw talent meets relentless determination — and something extraordinary happens. In the case of 19-year-old Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov, one such moment recently unfolded in Vancouver, leaving teammates, coaches, and fans in awe.

It wasn’t just the goal he scored — it was how he scored it, and the incredible story behind it that few knew until now. Behind that explosive one-timer, the crowd’s roar, and the celebration on the ice lies a tale of obsession, frustration, and sheer willpower. A story that shows exactly what separates good players from great ones.

Even those close to the team were taken aback when they learned what Demidov had been doing away from the spotlight — hours of extra work, countless failed attempts, and a surprising connection to another NHL sniper. According to TVA Sports journalist Anthony Martineau, what Demidov did to perfect that single shot might just define his entire career.

What exactly happened behind the scenes, and how did it lead to one of the Canadiens’ most satisfying goals of the season? Let’s take a closer look at the incredible journey behind Ivan Demidov’s breakthrough moment.

Oct 25, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky (20) and forward Ivan Demidov (93) and defenseman Lane Hutson (48) celebrate Slafkovsky's goal against the Vancouver Canucks in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

The young Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov is a very special player.

TVA Sports journalist Anthony Martineau just shared a story that proves it in a big way!

An incredible story behind Ivan Demidov’s latest goal against the Canucks, live from Vancouver

Here’s an excerpt from Martineau’s segment about it, on Tony Marinaro’s Sick Podcast:

“What makes the difference with Ivan Demidov, for me, is… you know, he’s very talented, but it’s not just that he’s passionate about hockey.

He’s a guy who lives only for hockey.

You know that goal he scored on the one-timer? For me, that was extremely satisfying to watch.

Why?

Because since the start of the season, I’ve seen Ivan Demidov get frustrated during practice because his one-timers weren’t up to his standards.

I think he’s taken more one-timers in practice than Patrik Laine!”

– Anthony Martineau

Basically, Ivan Demidov knew that the one-timer wasn’t his strongest skill, so he worked incredibly hard to improve it – and that led to the following result:

Here we can even see Patrik Laine helping Demidov with his one-timers:

Once again, this says a lot about the impeccable work ethic of young Demidov. This time, his hard work in practice directly led to a big goal that helped the Montreal Canadiens secure a win.

At just 19 years old, Ivan Demidov already has 9 points in 10 games this season. We can’t wait to see what else he has to bring this season!