Diane Bibaud has spent decades as part of the Montreal Canadiens’ soundtrack, and now she’s part of the artwork too.
At Tuesday night’s home opener at the Bell Centre, the long-time organist was back in front of fans who have come to expect her pre-game set and her familiar presence on the Jumbotron. Bibaud first joined the organization in 1987, when the team hired her to play at the Forum and help fulfill a childhood dream. Nearly 40 years later, she’s still tied to the building’s atmosphere - even after being let go twice and brought back both times.
Her first exit came in 1993, when a jukebox and a DJ took over. The Canadiens rehired her four years later.
Then came another dismissal in 2003, before team owner Geoff Molson corrected course in 2011 and brought her back again. Since then, she has remained a steady part of game nights at the Bell Centre.
Bibaud’s pre-game work has also stayed fresh. Fans who arrive early know she warms up well before the players do, and she keeps her set list lively with current touches.
When Celine Dion began her residency in Paris, Bibaud opened with “I’m Alive”. On Tuesday, she played “Molle-Twist Vanille Vanille” by Bleu Jeans Bleu, a song she described as one kids love.
The crowd, as always, responded with a loud cheer when she appeared on the big screen at the end of her set.
Her latest recognition came in an unexpected place: Jacob Fowler’s new mask. The 21-year-old Florida native unveiled a fresh design for this season from Sylabrush, the team formed by painter Sylvie Marsolais and Alexandre Mathys, who handles marketing and helps with ideas. Fowler moved away from his usual Iron Man theme and went with a gator, a nod to his nickname, while one side of the mask also features Bibaud at the piano.
Sylabrush said the idea came after Fowler asked about a new mask for the season, and they suggested Bibaud because “she’s iconic for the Habs and the Bell Centre”. They believed fans would appreciate it, Fowler agreed, and the design went forward. With so many Canadiens goalie masks painted over the years, originality is hard to come by, but this one found a different lane.
Bibaud said she was honored to be included and could hardly believe it. It’s the first time she has appeared on a goalie mask, and she was clearly moved by the gesture. She said she would have loved to thank Fowler, but hasn’t been able to yet because he is with the Laval Rocket right now.
That thank-you may not be far off. Fowler is expected back with the Canadiens sooner rather than later, and Bibaud will almost certainly get her chance to speak to him then.
Her profile has been growing beyond the rink, too. She recently kicked off an appearance when Pierre Houde was a guest on the weekly show En direct de l’univers, and she also appeared in Melanie Charbonneau’s 2025 film Les Furies, which tells the story of an all-girl roller derby team.
What started as a childhood dream in 1987 has become something bigger. Bibaud is no longer just the organist in the corner of the arena. At the Bell Centre, she’s become a familiar face, a fan favorite, and now a part of a Canadiens goalie mask.
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