After the Montreal Canadiens’ Alex Newhook clinched round two of the Stanley Cup series by scoring the winning goal over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 7, hype for the St. John’s–born player has been growing across the province.

That excitement is evident at Maverick Sports and Collectibles in St. John’s, which has sold out of Newhook’s Montreal Canadiens’ jerseys.

“It’s kind of amazing now, like after Game 7 the other night when [Newhook] scored again, there was so many phone calls looking for jerseys,” store owner Andrew Corbett told Radio-Canada.

“Ninety per cent of the phone calls we got were for Newhook stuff.”

On Thursday, the Canadiens stayed strong, scoring a 6-2 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final.

Corbett hopes they’ll make it all the way to winning the Stanley Cup, as he said business is good any time a Canadian team does well in the playoffs.

“Right now Montreal is by far our top seller. They’re definitely on a good run at the moment,” he said.

“It would certainly would be huge for business for us to get someone like that to win.”

While more Newhook jerseys are being ordered in, Corbett said some are already spoken for.

“There is certainly a lot of pride and happiness with Newhook playing on the team and especially doing so well,” he said.

Newhook’s former school brimming with pride

Students at Vanier Elementary have been excitedly following Newhook and the Montreal Canadiens this season.

“I think for the students, he represents a person who has worked very hard and, you know, has managed to achieve so many things in his career,” said principal Tina Maloney.

“We’re very much following closely right now, Alex and the wonderful things he’s been able to accomplish.”

Grade six student Michael Hubley said Newhook is an inspiration. 

“He’s a great hockey player and I want to play hockey when I grow up too,” said Hubley.

“It feels good that he’s from here and that he scored the goal for our province.”

Teachers have even been working hockey into their curriculum. Grade two teacher Stephanie King, and Newhook’s former kindergarten teacher, said she’s used Newhook’s hockey journey as a lesson in perseverance.

“He started off really hot this season and then had… a horrible injury. And instead of kind of fading into the distance, Alex does what Alex does. And he persevered, and he’s back better than before,” King said.

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