Being chosen within the first spherical of the NHL Draft is a once-in-a-lifetime second. Being introduced by some of the gifted singers of all time is one in one million.
On the 2024 NHL Draft on Friday evening (June 28), the Canadiens welcomed Celine Dion to the stage — described by Montreal normal supervisor Kent Hughes as “our No. 1 fan” — to announce the evening’s fifth general draft decide.
Dion was accompanied to the stage inside Las Vegas’ Sphere by her 23-year-old son René-Charles Dion Angélil, who can be a singer and goes by RC Angélil. After a bilingual greeting toggling between French and English, Dion acquired all the way down to enterprise. “With the fifth general choice within the 2024 NHL Draft, the Montreal Canadiens are proud to pick out Ivan Demidov.”
Due to Dion’s tense pause forward of claiming the 18-year-old Russian hockey participant’s identify, the NHL announcers referred to as it “probably the most dramatic draft announcement of all time.” (The announcers additionally advised that “Montreal is saying ‘merci’ to the Anaheim Geese for not choosing him,” after the California membership had proven curiosity in selecting Demidov third general.)
In his post-draft press convention. reporters requested Demidov what it was wish to have Dion announce his identify. “It’s unbelievable. It’s like a e book. Like a film. It’s… me,” he laughed.
The reporters advised he is perhaps too younger to know Dion’s music, however the Russian teen assured them, “No, I do know. I watched the Titanic.” Dion, in fact, carried out “My Coronary heart Will Go On,” the theme music from the 1997 James Cameron epic Titanic, which spent two weeks atop the Billboard Scorching 100.
Dion was born about 15 miles outdoors Montreal in Charlemagne, Quebec, and has been a vocal fan of the Canadiens for years. She has additionally referred to as Las Vegas dwelling for the previous 20 years, mounting a pair of residencies at Caesars Palace spanning 16 years.
The NHL Draft look comes just some days after Prime Video launched the brand new documentary I Am: Celine Dion, which chronicles Dion’s well being battle with Stiff Individual Syndrome, a uncommon autoimmune neurological dysfunction.
Watch Dion’s NHL Draft announcement and Demidov’s post-draft press convention under.