Petition draws nearly 6,000 signatures after NHL blocks Habs watch party in Gatineau, Que.

Montreal Canadiens' Lane Hutson, left, clears the puck from the goal area with Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) and Carolina Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov (37) nearby during the second period in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

A petition opposing the NHL’s cancellation of a Montreal Canadiens playoff watch party at a Gatineau, Que., arena has drawn nearly 6,000 signatures.

Wassim Aboutanos is behind the petition and head of a group that helped plan the watch party, and he is urging the NHL to allow Gatineau Habs fans to share in the playoff atmosphere.

The event was scheduled at the Slush Puppie Centre in Gatineau, across the river from Ottawa, for Game 2 of the third round between Montreal and the Carolina Hurricanes.

But Aboutanos says the league told his group the arena is located within the territory in which the Senators have exclusive marketing rights, meaning another NHL team cannot be promoted from that venue.

Aboutanos says about 400 tickets had been sold before the event was cancelled, adding that proceeds were intended for a local mental health organization.

Neither the NHL nor the Ottawa Senators responded to requests for comment.

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

Charlotte Glorieux, The Canadian Press