ItB次元官网网址檚 been 37 years since Guy Lafleur last played for the Montreal Canadiens, but it was his name that fans chanted before the team took to the ice Sunday.
For 10 minutes, Habs fans gave Lafleur, who died Friday at age 70, a standing ovation, as cheers of B次元官网网址淕uy, Guy, Guy!B次元官网网址� mixed with chants of B次元官网网址淥le, Ole, Ole!B次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淕o Habs Go!B次元官网网址�
Twice, the gameB次元官网网址檚 announcer began to say something, only to let fans keep cheering. Finally, he asked the fans to be quiet for a moment of silence in honour of Lafleur.
It was a mixture of sombre and celebration as the Canadiens marked the passing of one of their greats.
Une touchante c茅r茅monie d'avant-match en l'honneur de Guy Lafleur suivie d'une ovation digne de ce nom d'une dur茅e de 10:10.
B次元官网网址� Canadiens Montr茅al (@CanadiensMTL)
Moving pregame ceremony for Guy Lafleur followed by a fitting 10:10 ovation.
Images of LafleurB次元官网网址檚 youth were projected on the ice, before videos of his time with the Habs were shown on the arenaB次元官网网址檚 screen to the tune of Frank SinatraB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淢y Way.B次元官网网址�
While there was video of LafleurB次元官网网址檚 greatest goals, with a crucial goal against Boston B次元官网网址� the team the Habs faced Sunday B次元官网网址� in a Stanley Cup final drawing the biggest cheer.
But there were also images of B次元官网网址淭he FlowerB次元官网网址� lifting up the Stanley Cup B次元官网网址� he won five with Montreal B次元官网网址� and participating in the victory parades that were a regular event in Montreal during his time with the team.
B次元官网网址淲e must never forget playing hockey isnB次元官网网址檛 a job, itB次元官网网址檚 a game, we have to have fun,B次元官网网址� Lafleur said in one of the clips. B次元官网网址淎nd win as much as possible.B次元官网网址�
On the boards, the usual ads were replaced by a simple tribute to Lafleur: his name, his number, his signature and the years of life - 1951 to 2022.
Yvan Cournoyer, who played with Lafleur between 1971 and 1979, told reporters he knew there was something special about Lafleur from the moment he joined the Habs.
B次元官网网址淚 won five Stanley Cups before he arrived, I said, I tell you thereB次元官网网址檚 something with this guy, IB次元官网网址檓 gonna win more Stanley Cups and I was right,B次元官网网址� Cournoyer said, a black button with GuyB次元官网网址檚 No. 10 on his lapel.
Cournoyer said that while anyone could see how many goals Lafleur scored, it was his friend he would remember.
B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 forget a guy like Guy, IB次元官网网址檓 talking about the man,B次元官网网址� Cournoyer said, describing Lafleur as someone who deserved his popularity. B次元官网网址淗e loves everybody, everybody loves him.B次元官网网址�
Chris Nilan, who played with Montreal between 1980 and 1988, said Lafleur helped him feel like he belonged on the team when he first joined, skating with him before his first practice with the team.
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B次元官网网址淭he two of us skated together on the ice, just me and Guy, it was unbelievable. We passed pucks, he gave me some tips on shooting, I never quite got the shot that Guy had, but he tried. IB次元官网网址檒l never forget that day, it was so special for me,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淗e always treated me with respect, never less than. Some stars, they put themselves on another level, kind of on a pedestal, not Guy, he never looked down on me,B次元官网网址� Nilan said. B次元官网网址淛ust an awesome guy.B次元官网网址�
Before the ceremony, fans gathered in front of statue of Lafleur outside the arena.
Fan Danielle Lessard, who laid a bouquet of flowers in front of the statue, said Lafleur remained her favourite player long after he stopped playing.
As a child, she said she wrote to Lafleur and he sent back a card and autograph.
For her it was the B次元官网网址渢he speed, the elegance,B次元官网网址� of his play that she loved.
B次元官网网址淵ou could count on him. You knew he would score that goal.B次元官网网址�
Details about the upcoming events to celebrate the life and legacy of Guy Lafleur.
B次元官网网址� Canadiens Montr茅al (@CanadiensMTL)
A national funeral for Lafleur is scheduled for May 3, QuebecB次元官网网址檚 premier said earlier on Sunday.
Lafleur will lie in state at the Bell Centre on Sunday, May 1, from noon to 8 p.m. and Monday, May 2, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Condolences can also be left on the teamB次元官网网址檚 .
THE CANADIAN PRESS
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