Ask Gerv! Special outdoor game edition

In three decades as a member of the Canadiens organization, equipment manager Pierre Gervais has taken part in three outdoor games. Of note, he remembers it was very, very cold in Edmonton, but that isn't his only takeaway from those open air outings...

To read the previous edition, click here.
1. Question from Bryn Gillings, via Facebook
Should equipment companies start adding thermal technology to the players' equipment for outdoor games? Would that be cool?
Not really, no. But what we do is we have different undergarments for cold temperatures. Red Batty, a Montrealer who is the equipment manager for the Green Bay Packers, is a good friend of mine and when we had our first Heritage Classic in Edmonton, I spoke to him because the Packers usually play outdoors in the cold. He gave me some good tips. So I buy undergarments for cold temperatures which are very effective. Even if the temperature is hovering around zero, it's too hot for the players. So we'll only hand them out if it's around minus-10 or something like that. I have tops and bottoms for that. The rest of the equipment, we can't really do anything or change anything. I don't see how the companies could do it, either. The equipment, the jerseys, it's the same. I don't think it'll happen.

2, Question from Sabrina St-Laurent, via Facebook
What are the most important steps for preparing for an outdoor game when it comes to the players' equipment?
The equipment stays the same, it's the undergarments that could change. The jerseys are different, we have different socks, different practice jerseys and socks, which we'll only use for those two days. This year, we have different pants just for the game, which don't have a line down the side, they're entirely blue. In the locker room, I make different name plates. The numbers on the helmets will be different because there is a bit of silver coloring on the new uniform. I added a bit of silver, just like on the Canadiens logo, so that it all goes together. We're taking off the other stickers - which come off easily - in order to put these on and we'll change them back for the following game in Vancouver.
3. Question from William Furt, via Facebook
In general, do the outdoor games require the use of more equipment per player? Like sticks, gloves, skate blades, etc.
No. It's the same thing.

4. Question from Francis (@francorico1514) via Twitter
You've had the privilege of working many outdoor games for the Canadiens. Among them, which one was your most memorable and why?
I would say the one in Boston [January 1, 2016], because it was the perfect day. It was really nice out, it wasn't too cold and it was in a nice stadium. It was my third, so I had more experience. I was a little less stressed. It was pretty fun in Boston!
5. Question from Matt B (@ThunderingElk), via Twitter
Will Carey Price bring out an old mask or have a new one made for this special game?
He has a new one. Surprise!
6. Question from teems.zoro (@fatems_19), viaTwitter
What has been your favorite moment from all the outdoor games?
In fact, I have one particular memory in mind. At the first one in Edmonton, it was really cold. It was minus-15 or minus-17 - it was really cold. The temperate combined with the fact it was the first outdoor game the League had ever done, was special. Now, it's super organized, but back then, we didn't really know what to expect. Today, the benches are heated, which is something we didn't have in those days. There was a little bit of heating, but not much. It didn't distribute very well. It was so hot in front of the heater that you couldn't stay in front of it, but as soon as you moved two steps over, it was cold. But now, they have heated benches and all that. Everyone learned a lot from that experience.