Martin St. Louis never required a script to make a lasting impression—on the ice or elsewhere. And now, a video resurfacing of the current Montreal Canadiens head coach honoring his deceased mother at his Tampa Bay Lightning jersey retirement is going viral, reminding everyone why he's not only a hockey icon—but a human one as well.
Martin St. Louis' viral tribute to his mom is the emotional throwback hockey fans needed
In the video that is now taking rounds on social media, Martin St. Louis gets choked up during his speech, voice cracking as he thanks the woman who never let him lose hope—France St. Louis, his mother.
“There's one person who is not here tonight who I wish could be here more than anything. It's my mom,” he says. That unfiltered moment has rekindled emotional memories for fans, players, and anyone who's ever needed someone to believe in them. “She was my biggest fan and cheerleader. She believed in me even when I didn't. I know she's with us tonight… proud and smiling down. As a kid, she would always tell me, ‘Show them, Marty , show them.’ Well, mom, I think I did.”
Years before he was a Stanley Cup winner , Olympic gold medallist, and NHL MVP , Martin St. Louis was a 5'8" undrafted youngster from Laval, Quebec, who was always informed that he wasn't big enough to succeed. But not to his mother.
St. Louis fought his way into the NHL with the Calgary Flames, made waves with the Tampa Bay Lightning , and retired from the New York Rangers . He retired after playing over 1,000 games and scoring 1,000 points in 2015. He's the current coach of the Montreal Canadiens, and yeah—he just got them into the playoffs.
But the tears in that video weren't for the stats. They were for the soul. The love. The woman behind the man.
Fan reaction proves why this video resonated
Instagram is abuzz, not only because of hockey nostalgia—but because of just how relatable that moment is.
"A man who has succeeded at every level but knows what he owes to his MOM. Beautiful," an Instagram user commented.
Another one said, "Now you got them to the playoffs. Go show your men that you can beat one of the bests and outwit the great 8."
Some regarded it as a personal wake-up call. Others, as a leadership lesson. All regarded it as genuine.
A YouTube commenter said, "Still showing them, Marty. Still showing them."
Martin St. Louis continues to inspire—on the bench, in the stands, and in the heart
Martin St. Louis wasn't supposed to be here. That's what the scouts told him. But when you've got a mother who says you're unstoppable, suddenly you are.
He won the Hart Trophy, set a record two times by leading the league in scoring, became the first to have his number retired as a Tampa Bay player, and wound up joining the Hockey Hall of Fame. And now he's teaching the kids, bringing the same fire—and the same passion.
Also read: Chicago Blackhawks defeat Montreal Canadiens 4-3 as rookie Ivan Demidov makes memorable debut
This viral moment is more than just a speech—it’s a symbol. That sometimes, greatness begins with someone quietly whispering, "I believe in you."
Martin St. Louis' viral tribute to his mom is the emotional throwback hockey fans needed
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIm4wAWMzMR/ https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIm4wAWMzMR/
In the video that is now taking rounds on social media, Martin St. Louis gets choked up during his speech, voice cracking as he thanks the woman who never let him lose hope—France St. Louis, his mother.
“There's one person who is not here tonight who I wish could be here more than anything. It's my mom,” he says. That unfiltered moment has rekindled emotional memories for fans, players, and anyone who's ever needed someone to believe in them. “She was my biggest fan and cheerleader. She believed in me even when I didn't. I know she's with us tonight… proud and smiling down. As a kid, she would always tell me, ‘Show them, Marty , show them.’ Well, mom, I think I did.”
Years before he was a Stanley Cup winner , Olympic gold medallist, and NHL MVP , Martin St. Louis was a 5'8" undrafted youngster from Laval, Quebec, who was always informed that he wasn't big enough to succeed. But not to his mother.
St. Louis fought his way into the NHL with the Calgary Flames, made waves with the Tampa Bay Lightning , and retired from the New York Rangers . He retired after playing over 1,000 games and scoring 1,000 points in 2015. He's the current coach of the Montreal Canadiens, and yeah—he just got them into the playoffs.
But the tears in that video weren't for the stats. They were for the soul. The love. The woman behind the man.
Fan reaction proves why this video resonated
Instagram is abuzz, not only because of hockey nostalgia—but because of just how relatable that moment is.
"A man who has succeeded at every level but knows what he owes to his MOM. Beautiful," an Instagram user commented.
Another one said, "Now you got them to the playoffs. Go show your men that you can beat one of the bests and outwit the great 8."
Some regarded it as a personal wake-up call. Others, as a leadership lesson. All regarded it as genuine.
A YouTube commenter said, "Still showing them, Marty. Still showing them."
Martin St. Louis continues to inspire—on the bench, in the stands, and in the heart
Martin St. Louis wasn't supposed to be here. That's what the scouts told him. But when you've got a mother who says you're unstoppable, suddenly you are.
He won the Hart Trophy, set a record two times by leading the league in scoring, became the first to have his number retired as a Tampa Bay player, and wound up joining the Hockey Hall of Fame. And now he's teaching the kids, bringing the same fire—and the same passion.
Also read: Chicago Blackhawks defeat Montreal Canadiens 4-3 as rookie Ivan Demidov makes memorable debut
This viral moment is more than just a speech—it’s a symbol. That sometimes, greatness begins with someone quietly whispering, "I believe in you."
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