On Tuesday, the death of the “Prince of Darkness,” Ozzy Osbourne, was announced, leaving millions of fans in mourning. While the news came as a shock to some, it shouldn’t have been given how the 76-year-old lived his life.
When you mention Ozzy Osbourne to Montreal Canadiens fans, most recall the time when the Habs gifted him a Canadiens jersey bearing his name and the number 666. The singer looked chuffed with the gift and was spotted wearing it more than once in the following years.
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For this reporter, though, the mention of Osbourne brings back a memory from 2021. As someone who lived alone during the pandemic, I was suffering from severe hockey withdrawals when the NHL shut down, and no amount of watching replays of classic games could cure it.
The legend Ozzy Osbourne was gifted a Habs jersey when Black Sabbath performed in Montreal back in 2014.
RIP 🙏 pic.twitter.com/1KXHSdD7uy
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) July 22, 2025
But as the league was getting ready to launch the shortened 2021 season, the Canadiens released a video that took us through the trying months of the pandemic we had just endured, before showing us the players coming back home to Montreal to get back to work.
The video’s background song was Osbourne’s Mama I’m Coming Home. I’m not a big fan of heavy metal, so there aren’t many of his songs that I like. However, that one has always been my favorite, and watching the emotionally charged images with that song in the background was truly moving to me.
On the day of the Prince of Darkness' passing, I feel it's a good time to re-share this video that gave me goosebumps and brought tears to my eye during the pandemic, RIP Ozzy #GoHabsGo#CH#Canadiens#Habshttps://t.co/taBtGY6JeS
— Karine Hains (@KarineHains) July 22, 2025
The thought of hockey’s return, coupled with everything that had gone on over the past few months, brought goosebumps to my arms and tears to my eyes. I don’t think I’ve ever been so moved by a simple preseason video or by any video for that matter, but what can I say? Like many at the time, I was an emotional wreck.
Rest in peace, Ozzy, and thank you for the memories.
Photo credit: Robert Hanashiro -Imagn Images
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