Mere moments later, he listened as Lacroix prompted the crowd ovation.
"It's a moment that I won't soon forget," said Matheson following the Canadiens' annual Hockey Fights Cancer Night game. "It's hard to put into words, but it's very special."
Matheson can't imagine hearing another voice through the Bell Centre speakers, and we'd be hard pressed to find a fan who disagrees.
In 1993, Lacroix assumed full-time duties of the PA position in Montreal, but his tenure with the Canadiens ranges well beyond that. It was in 1977 that the Laval, QC native first stepped into the penalty box at the Forum for his first game with his childhood team.
Prior to making the jump to the professional ranks, Lacroix, like any other unestablished candidate, had to prove himself.
In the 1970s, Lacroix landed with the Laval National in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, where he honed his skills behind the microphone - a talent that didn't come as natural as the purity of his voice.
"I was listening to broadcasts on TV and radio, but I had no clue how to work behind a microphone," admitted Lacroix. "It took me a while, maybe a year or so to get accustomed to different types of announcing."
The same way it is a popular breeding ground for future NHLers, the QMJHL also turned out to be the birthplace of Lacroix's career as a public address announcer and the gateway to his entry as the voice of the Montreal Canadiens.
But before making his debut with the Canadiens, Lacroix made a pit stop on Montreal's east end where he would introduce his voice to the world.
Literally.
With the 1976 Summer Olympic Games held in Montreal, Lacroix was appointed the official announcer at the Olympic Stadium.
"They told me, 'Well, you probably have an audience of about 1.2 billion people,' and you just go, 'Ok!'" he laughed.
In the eyes of Claude Mouton, the Montreal Canadiens' director of public relations and in-house announcer at the time, Lacroix passed the test - or better yet, aced it. Mouton told Lacroix that if he could do the Olympic Games, he could probably help them on a few occasions, too.
On March 30, 1977, Lacroix launched his NHL career, and the rest is history.
Forty-six years later, much has changed, but his passion for his profession has remained the same. It's the adrenaline rush and feeling of perfection that keeps Lacroix on the edge of his seat every time he puts on the headset.
"I think still having fun with it and still being a little nervous every time you get in your seat is what does it," he said.
"Twenty people, twenty thousand people, seventy-five thousand people, the voice will remain the same," he added. "I just go out there and give it a blast. It's fun, it has to be fun."
While it's fun for Lacroix, it's equally as thrilling for the fans who are listening, and the excitement isn't necessarily limited to those in the crowd. Current players have also made a point of introducing themselves to Lacroix, putting a face to the voice they so often hear.
"I actually saw him for the first time after one of the games a couple of weeks ago, and I just went up to him and said, 'I don't think we've actually met.' It felt like I was meeting somebody that I already knew in a way, but yeah, it was one of those people that I wanted to make sure that I had the opportunity to introduce myself to," said Matheson.
As much fun as Lacroix has, he understands and acknowledges the business side of the job. Preparation, which to him is a form of respect, is essential. Lacroix puts an emphasis on "getting it right," and does his homework to ensure as close to perfection as possible.