HOCKEY'S HOLY PLACE CLOSES ITS DOORS TO THE FAITHFUL

     The final game at the Montreal Forum was carried on ESPN2
last night, with post-game ceremonies featuring great Canadiens
players of the past (ESPN2, 3/11).  ESPN's Gary Thorne likened
the closing ceremonies to a "religious experience."  ESPN's Jimmy
Roberts:   "If, as it has been said that, Quebec thinks and acts
like a nation, then the Montreal Canadiens are the national team,
and this building is the shrine"  ("SportsCenter," 3/11).  ABC's
"World News Tonight" also looked at the closing of the Forum.
Peter Jennings likened it to the closing of Yankee Stadium.
ABC's John McKenzie:  "In a country where hockey boarders on
religion, the Forum is its holiest of shrines" (ABC, 3/11).
CNN's Nick Charles called the Forum "more than a building.  It is
a symbol and a shrine" ("Sports Tonight," 3/11).