'It's incredible': Montrealers celebrate as Laurent Duvernay-Tardif's team wins Super Bowl
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is a native of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que.
Super Bowl celebrations in Montreal were larger than usual this year, as fans cheered on local talent Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who played for the Kansas City Chiefs as they beat out the San Francisco 49ers 31-20.
More than 100 people gathered to watch the game at Taverne 1909 in downtown Montreal.
Duvernay-Tardif's aunt and cousin were among the fans.
"It was a crazy game. It was very stressful and a lot of emotions," said Duvernay-Tardif's aunt, Liette Duvernay. "I thought they were going to lose."
"It's incredible. One word, incredible," his cousin, Anne Sylvain, added. "He deserves it."
Sylvain and Liette Duvernay both look forward to telling Duvernay-Tardif how proud they are of him.
"He worked hard to get to this step," his aunt said.
Duvernay-Tardif, a native of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que., plays right guard on the Chiefs offensive line.
He's also the first medical doctor to play in the NFL, having completed a medical degree at McGill University.
The game was full of twists and turns for the crowd, but Patrick Mahomes threw for a pair of touchdowns in the game's final six minutes, helping the Chiefs erase a 10-point deficit and beat the 49ers.
Marie-Christine Boucher, executive director of the Laurent Duvernay-Tardif Foundation, helped organize the watch party Sunday.
The event raised more than $40,000 for the organization, which is aimed at encouraging children to balance their studies with sports and the arts.
"I'm a little emotional today, I know it's a big game for him," said Boucher.
After the game, Quebec Premier François Legault took to Twitter to voice his support.
"A Quebecer has taken the Super Bowl! What joy to see Quebec radiate across the world," Legault wrote.
Un Québécois remporte le <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SuperBowl?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SuperBowl</a>! Quel bonheur de voir le Québec rayonner à travers le monde!<br><br>Bravo à <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurentDTardif?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LaurentDTardif</a> et son équipe, les <a href="https://twitter.com/Chiefs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Chiefs</a>, pour cet exploit.<br><br>Laurent, tu fais la fierté de tout un peuple ce soir. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChiefsKingdom?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChiefsKingdom</a>
—@francoislegaultWith files from Simon Nakonechny
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