Snowbirds to fly over Bell Centre before Canadiens, Hurricanes Game 3

Archives - Snowbirds during a demonstration. (Photo AP/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

The Canadian Forces Snowbirds are set to fly over Montreal for the second day in a row on Monday, just before Game 3 of the NHL playoff series between the Canadiens and the Carolina Hurricanes.

The aerobatic team is expected to fly over the Bell Centre at 6:15 p.m., just under two hours before the puck drops.

The third game of the Eastern Conference Final, which is tied 1-1, begins at 8 p.m.

The 21,000 fans headed to the Bell Centre in the early evening should be able to see the planes fly by before entering the arena.

With the Canadiens broadcasting their games on giant screens in front of the Bell Centre during the playoffs, traffic is likely to be very heavy on Canadiens-de-Montréal Avenue.

On Facebook, the Snowbirds noted that there will be “two legendary teams in red, white and blue” in Montreal, “one in the air, the other on the ice.”

On Sunday, the Canadian Forces demonstration team flew over the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit before the start of the Canadian Formula 1 Grand Prix.

This could be the Snowbirds’ last visit to Montreal for some time.

The squadron is in its final season with its CT-114 Tutor jets, set to be retired and replaced in the early 2030s by modern CT-157 Siskin II aircraft.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 25, 2026.