Canadiens history fuels Newhook during tour of Bell Centre

MONTREAL - Out with the old, in with the Newhook.

SHOP: Alex Newhook replica jersey

Like moving away from home, being traded to a new team is no easy task.

But when that new home is the Bell Centre, and when that new team is the Montreal Canadiens, it makes for a far more welcoming change of pace.

That's the case for Alex Newhook, who, on Monday, checked out his future digs for the first time since signing a four-year deal with the Canadiens on July 11.

The visit did not disappoint.

"[It's] obviously, such a storied franchise and to see all the history in the locker room definitely motivates us to get back to that winning culture," said the Habs newcomer during a livestream on Twitch following his inaugural tour of the Bell Centre.

The history inside the locker room is one thing, but the glory of yesteryears in the rafters is another, and Newhook soaked it in as he looked north when walking through the player's tunnel for the first time.

"I was unfamiliar with the amount of numbers that were retired here," expressed the Habs' new No. 15, a number he wore with Team Canada at the U18 and U20 World Junior Championships. "I started off with 18, which is what I wore with Colorado, and then 19 and 16, which are also retired, so I landed on 15. I'm excited to be wearing it again."

Dressed in his new bleu-blanc-rouge threads, the Newfoundland native made his arrival in La Belle Province social media official in typical Gen Z fashion.

And the 22-year-old continued making himself at home,

Newhook's first visit to the Bell Centre is in the books and on October 11, he'll look to etch his name further into Habs history, becoming just the fifth Newfoundland-born player to play for the Canadiens.

"I'm very excited," he said. "I felt the energy of the Bell Centre when I played here a couple of times, but I'm excited to be on the other side and feel [the fans'] support on the right side this time. I can't wait to get going."