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Montreal Canadiens fans are literally causing microearthquakes during playoff games

Every Canadiens goal sent fans inside and outside the Bell Centre jumping at once, creating vibrations strong enough to register on nearby seismometers.

Laura Osborne
Written by
Laura Osborne
Editor, Time Out Canada
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Photograph: Susan Moss Photography - Tourisme Montréal | Habs
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Montreal Canadiens fans may be making more than just noise — they’re making waves, quite literally.

According to an article published by CTV News, celebrations at the Montreal Canadiens games have registered as measurable seismic activity, with goal celebrations producing micro-tremors detected across the city.

Read: The best Habs pre-game spot near Montreal’s Bell Centre

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Photograph: Time Out Market MontréalHabs

What is Habs short for?

Habs is the famous nickname for the NHL's Montreal Canadiens. The moniker is short for "Les Habitants," which was the informal name given to the original 17th-century French settlers in Quebec.

Did Habs fans' celebrations register as microearthquakes?

Researchers at Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf say the most intense moments — during Saturday and Monday night games — generated readings of approximately 0.5 on the Richter scale.

The activity was picked up by a seismograph from Natural Resources Canada located at Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf, roughly five kilometres from the Bell Centre.

A separate sensor in a McGill University basement laboratory also recorded spikes following Canadiens goals.

During Game 6 against the Buffalo Sabres, researchers noted sharp seismic jumps after goals scored by Arber Xhekaj, Ivan Demidov and Jake Evans. 

More than 21,000 fans filled the arena, with thousands more gathering outside, turning downtown Montreal into a collective celebration zone.

Two of the strongest tremors — recorded at 8:16 p.m. and 8:18 p.m. — coincided with goal celebrations and were attributed to the sudden surge of crowd movement and cheering inside the building.

The pattern repeated during Game 7 on Monday night, when the Bell Centre once again erupted on goals at 7:47 p.m. and 8:07 p.m., despite the game being played on the road.

For more information about the CTV News, click here.

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