Canadiens Playoffs Bring 10% Drop in Quebec Emergency Room Visits, Study Finds

Key facts

• Les Coops de l’information recorded hourly ER data across Quebec during the NHL playoffs.
• ER visits drop by an average of 10% when the Montreal Canadiens play.
• The decline is most pronounced between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. during games.
• A Portuguese study found a 20% drop in ER admissions during Lisbon derby soccer matches.
• a 40% increase in heart attacks among men 55 and under the day after a Canadiens home win.
• Dr. Audrey-Anne Turcotte-Brousseau, ER chief at CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS, observed the pattern.
• Dr. Simon Berthelot, emergency medicine specialist at CHU de Québec – Université Laval, noted historical anecdotes of empty ERs on game nights.

Hockey Night in Quebec: A Temporary Respite for Overburdened ERs

When the Montreal Canadiens take the ice during the NHL playoffs, Quebec’s emergency rooms see an average of 10% fewer patients waiting for care, according to data collected by Les Coops de l’information. The phenomenon, observed hourly since the start of the postseason, offers a brief but measurable reprieve for the province’s strained emergency departments. The drop is most acute between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., coinciding with game broadcasts. “It’s really a small pause in traffic, but it relieves some pressure,” said Dr. Audrey-Anne Turcotte-Brousseau, chief of the emergency department at CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS.

The Post-Game Surge: Delayed Care and Spike in Heart Attacks

The relief is temporary. Once the final buzzer sounds, patients return — and sometimes in greater numbers. “Sunday was a game night, and it was indeed quiet in the waiting room. But the next day it exploded,” Turcotte-Brousseau noted. A Canadian study found that heart attack admissions increased by 40% the day after a Canadiens home win, particularly among men aged 55 and under. Experts believe that non-urgent cases delay seeking care during games, while emotional and physiological stress from the match may trigger cardiac events in vulnerable individuals.

Historical Anecdotes and International Evidence

The link between major sporting events and emergency room volumes is not new. Dr. Simon Berthelot, an emergency medicine specialist and researcher at CHU de Québec – Université Laval, recalled a joke from his training days: “When I started my training, the Quebec Nordiques still existed, and we used to joke that on game nights, the ERs were empty.” While Berthelot cautioned that the correlation is not absolute, he pointed to multiple studies confirming the trend. A Portuguese study, for example, documented a 20% drop in ER admissions during the Lisbon derby, the soccer match between the city’s two major clubs. In both the Canadian and Portuguese cases, researchers noted a subsequent rebound in visits after the games ended.

Data Collection and Methodology

Les Coops de l’information, a Quebec-based news cooperative, tracked patient counts in emergency rooms across the province every hour during the NHL playoffs. The data revealed a consistent pattern: when the Canadiens play, waiting rooms are emptier. The 10% average reduction is most pronounced during and immediately after the game, between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Turcotte-Brousseau emphasized that the dip, while modest, provides a tangible break for healthcare workers. “It’s really a small pause in traffic, but it relieves some pressure,” she said.

Implications for Healthcare Planning

The findings offer a potential tool for hospital administrators. Knowing that playoff games correlate with lower ER volumes could help schedule non-urgent procedures or staff breaks on game nights. Conversely, the post-game surge — particularly the increased risk of heart attacks — suggests that emergency departments should prepare for higher acuity cases the day after a Canadiens game, especially a home victory. Berthelot noted that the phenomenon is not unique to hockey. Similar patterns have been observed during major soccer matches, Super Bowls, and other high-stakes sporting events.

A Double-Edged Sword for Public Health

While the drop in ER visits during games may seem beneficial, it raises concerns about delayed care. Patients with non-urgent conditions may postpone treatment, potentially allowing conditions to worsen. The spike in heart attacks the following day underscores the risks of both delayed care and the physiological stress of the game itself. Turcotte-Brousseau advised that fans with medical concerns should not skip necessary care, even during a playoff game. “If you need to go to the ER, go,” she said. “But if you can wait, game night might be a quieter time.”

The bottom line

• Quebec ER visits drop by 10% during Canadiens playoff games, with the largest decline between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
• The post-game period sees a surge in patients, including a 40% increase in heart attacks among men 55 and under after a home win.
• Non-urgent cases are likely delaying care during games, contributing to the rebound.
• International studies, including from Portugal, confirm similar patterns during major sporting events.
• Healthcare planners could use game schedules to optimize staffing and prepare for post-game demand.