Standing ovations are also often given in sports to reflect an outstanding performance, or to celebrate a beloved sporting hero that has a strong connection with the team's fans and home city. This practice is especially notable among sports fans in
Montreal,
Quebec,
Canada, where many athletes have received standing ovations exceeding several minutes long. Significant examples include: • In 1996,
Montreal Canadiens legend
Maurice Richard received a 16-minute long standing ovation from the fans at the
Montreal Forum following the conclusion of the Forum's final Canadiens home game as he and other Canadiens greats who played at the Forum were presented to the crowd. Richard's ovation is the longest in the history of the Forum and of the Canadiens. • In 2002, Montreal Canadiens legend
Saku Koivu returned to the Canadiens' lineup following suffering from
Burkitt's lymphoma, a form of
cancer. Koivu received an 8–9 minutes standing ovation from the Montreal fans prior to puck drop. It was officially listed as the second longest standing ovation in Canadiens history at the time, until it was surpassed in 2022 by the Canadiens' pre-game tribute to
Guy Lafleur following the announcing of his death. • In 2003, after
Montreal Expos star player
Vladimir Guerrero Sr. played his last game with the Expos, he saluted the
Olympic Stadium crowd alongside his son, then three-year-old
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The two wore matching Expos uniforms and tipped their caps to the Montreal faithful as the crowd cheered. • In 2022, following the announcing of the death of Canadiens great
Guy Lafleur, the team held a tribute to him prior to the Canadiens' game against the
Boston Bruins at
Bell Centre. The ceremony featured highlights of Lafleur's career being played on the JumboTron and many players and coaches paying respects and saying thanks to Lafleur. The fans in attendance then stood to applaud for 10 minutes and 10 seconds to celebrate Lafleur The ovation was officially timed as the second longest in Canadiens history, behind Maurice Richard's from 1996. ==References==