Montreal Canadiens’ intra-squad game draws 17,000 fans

MONTREAL – The Montreal Canadiens were greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of more than 17,000 fans Thursday night when they took the ice for an intra-squad game at the Bell Centre.

The players and new head coach Michel Therrien arrived to chants of “Ole! Ole! Ole!”

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Many in the crowd crowd also chanted “We want to P.K.,” referring to restricted free-agent defenceman P.K. Subban, who is in the process of a negotiating a contract with the Habs and is not with the club.

The 23-year-old is seeking a new deal with the team after his entry-level contract expired at the end of the 2011-12 season.

The Canadiens, who finished last in the Eastern Conference last season, open their lockout-shortened season at home on Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.