Emotions ran high in Montreal on Sunday as thousands of Guy LafleurB次元官网网址檚 fans gathered to pay tribute to the Montreal Canadiens legend.
The almost three-hour-long lineup to enter the Bell Centre, the teamB次元官网网址檚 current home, created a sense of camaraderie among fans of all ages B次元官网网址� most of them were proudly wearing LafleurB次元官网网址檚 jersey.
Greggory Laberge, 55, flew in from Denver, Col., and exchanged laughs with the stranger waiting in front of him as he prepared to pay his respects to his hockey idol.
B次元官网网址淗e was our hero B次元官网网址� We all wanted to be Guy Lafleur on the rink,B次元官网网址� said Laberge, who is originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
Laberge tearfully said LafleurB次元官网网址檚 on-ice example sent a powerful message to boys like him B次元官网网址� go out and conquer the world.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the end of an era,B次元官网网址� he added.
Montrealer Alain Silverstone stood next to Laberge, nodding in agreement.
B次元官网网址淗e was a superstar, on ice and off the ice,B次元官网网址� Silverstone said. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 going to be missed, but his legacy will always live on.B次元官网网址�
LafleurB次元官网网址檚 body lay in state on Sunday, the first of two days on which people were invited to pay their respects to the Hockey Hall of Famer.
Lafleur, who helped the Canadiens win the Stanley Cup in 1973, and then again four more times from 1976 to 1979, died on April 22 at the age of 70 following a battle with lung cancer.
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Canadiens General Manager Kent Hughes said even in difficult times, Lafleur would think of the team.
B次元官网网址淚 sent him a text message around the trade deadline to tell him I hoped his health would improve, that weB次元官网网址檇 hopefully have a chance to meet and talk to the team,B次元官网网址� Hughes said on Saturday, calling Lafleur the Montreal Canadiens hockey player of his childhood.
B次元官网网址淗e answered that he was continuing to fight and that he hoped to one day meet in person.B次元官网网址�
Lafleur finished with a total of 560 goals and 793 assists for 1,353 points in 1,126 games over his 17-season career. He was later named one of the NHLB次元官网网址檚 top-100 players of all-time.
Quebec Premier Fran莽ois Legault, who previously called Lafleur the B次元官网网址済reatest player in the history of the NHL,B次元官网网址� spoke to the media after visiting LafleurB次元官网网址檚 casket with his wife.
B次元官网网址淗e was spectacular, like an artist,B次元官网网址� Legault said.
B次元官网网址淕uy Lafleur was unique, he was a great player and to be united is something important right now. With guys like Guy Lafleur, we are all together, waiting to pay tribute. He has to inspire us for the future.B次元官网网址�
Legault, 64, said it was scary to see Lafleur die so young.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e got all kinds of souvenirs B次元官网网址� I lost my father young, he was 59-years-old. I remember moments I had with my father watching Guy Lafleur and hearing the crowds saying Guy! Guy! Guy! That was something.B次元官网网址�
Montreal Mayor Val茅rie Plante also spoke to reporters, acknowledging people from all over the world who came to the city for this occasion.
B次元官网网址淚t shows that Guy Lafleur was loved,B次元官网网址� Plante said. B次元官网网址淚 spoke with a lot of residents who told me Guy Lafleur made them proud. He touched a lot of people with his generosity, authenticity, passion, and talent.B次元官网网址�
She reiterated her desire to find a place to create a lasting tribute to honor Lafleur.
B次元官网网址淲e need to make sure that Montreal forever remembers this legend,B次元官网网址� Plante said.
Among the fans who made the trip to commemorate Lafleur was Alex Landreville. He was standing away from the main crowd, reflecting on LafleurB次元官网网址檚 accomplishments at the base of the playerB次元官网网址檚 statue located outside the Montreal CanadiensB次元官网网址� arena, where flowers and handwritten notes had been laid out.
Landreville, who lives in Ottawa, is part of the younger generation who never got the chance to see Lafleur play.
He, however, woke up at 6 a.m. on Sunday to drive his dad and uncle to Montreal for the visitation B次元官网网址� both men from whom heB次元官网网址檚 heard stories about LafleurB次元官网网址檚 exploits.
B次元官网网址淣ot missing this was important,B次元官网网址� Landreville said. B次元官网网址淚 knew how big he was, you can hear people going crazy right now.B次元官网网址�
Lafleur will be lying in state until 8 p.m. Sunday and on Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A national funeral for Lafleur is also scheduled for Tuesday and will be held at Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral in downtown Montreal.
Virginie Ann, The Canadian Press
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