Most of the time, when a celebrity sits on the bench or sidelines as an honorary captain or coach, they’re just having fun.
That was not the case when Canadian pop singer Justin Bieber joined Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery on Team Matthews’ bench for the All-singer Game on Saturday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
“Bieber was awesome. “He was fantastic back there,” Montgomery told reporters, according to the team. “He had a lot of enthusiasm and was really into it. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it was fantastic.
Team Matthews defeated Team McDavid in the Final Game, and Montgomery was fired up on the bench alongside Bieber.
Montgomery recognized more than just Bieber’s hockey approach. He was also intrigued by his fashion sense, so he asked to wear his puffy polka-dot coat.
Like we said…just for today 🤜🤛 pic.twitter.com/u5xmfegXCL
— x – Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 3, 2024
“I wanted to wear it in the second half of the period, but I guess he didn’t want to share it,” he added. “…I love the coat. I wanted to wear it. I don’t have a look, therefore my clothing may stand out.
Montgomery said he didn’t get to spend much time with Bieber outside of sitting on the bench during games, but he did ask him what music he’s listening to right now. The Bruins bench boss couldn’t recall the name of the group, but he knew they were from Austin, Texas.
In addition to Bieber, Montgomery’s son Colin served as an assistant coach for Team Matthews.
“This is an incredible experience,” Montgomery stated. “The National Hockey League does an excellent job of showcasing the finest players in the world, and simply being a part of it and getting to know the people that make our game great is remarkable, especially with my family here. Colin has been able to join me on the bench for the past two years, and I am grateful to the NHL for allowing that.”
While Montgomery may like Bieber, Colin did not appear to share his father’s enthusiasm when asked if he was a fan of the musician.
“Uh, he’s fine,” the younger Montgomery said, to a chorus of laughing.
Montgomery and the Bruins practice twice on Sunday before meeting the Calgary Flames at TD Garden on Tuesday night.
