Guy Lafleur: Hundreds gather for funeral of hockey legend

Montreal Canadiens legend Man Lafleur was remembered at a nationwide funeral Tuesday as a father, a teammate and an individual of remarkable generosity who impressed generations of Quebecers each on and off the ice.

His son, Martin Lafleur, described his father as somebody who at all times made time for his household and who wished to maintain everybody, “even folks he did not know.”

He instructed the gang at Mary Queen of the World Cathedral in downtown Montreal that his father wasn’t good however did every thing he may to make sure he, his mom and brother had been completely happy and lacked nothing. “Thanks for all of the values you handed on to us Dad, we love you,” he stated.

Hockey corridor of famers Yvon Cournoyer, Larry Robinson, Man Carbonneau and Patrick Roy had been among the many first to pay tribute to the Habs legend, who died final month at age 70 after battling lung most cancers.

“Man as soon as stated, ‘Play each recreation as if it’s your final one,”‘ Robinson stated. “No one embodied that philosophy higher than Man.

“Not solely did he play every recreation to the fullest, he tried to dwell his life to the fullest off the ice as properly.”

Carbonneau recounted exhibiting up at his first Canadiens coaching camp and having to pinch himself when he was placed on a line along with his childhood idol, Lafleur. At that time Lafleur had gained 4 consecutive Stanley Cups in addition to a number of particular person awards.

“Despite that, he did every thing in his energy to make me really feel at dwelling,” the previous captain stated. “That was Man Lafleur, a celebrity but in addition one of many boys. He was one of the beneficiant and accessible folks I ever met.”

Canadiens president Geoff Molson thanked Lafleur for uplifting three generations of followers. He described Lafleur as a participant who had time for everybody, particularly his followers, in addition to “the perfect participant on the perfect group on this planet.”

These attending embrace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Quebec Premier Francois Legault, and plenty of present and former Montreal Canadiens hockey gamers. Quebec singer Ginette Reno additionally carried out.

Followers lined the barricades that blocked off the streets outdoors the church on Tuesday morning, many carrying Lafleur’s quantity 10 jersey in tribute to one of many recreation’s largest stars. They broke into chants of “Man! Man! Man!” because the casket, which was draped within the Canadiens’ flag, was unloaded from a black hearse forward of the ceremony after a procession that started on the Bell Centre, the Canadiens’ dwelling enviornment.

Music performed because the casket was carried down the aisle to take a seat in entrance of the altar, which was adorned with bouquets of white flowers.

Contained in the church, forward of a conventional Catholic ceremony headed by Archbishop Christian Lepine, the tributes ranged from heartwarming to humorous.

Roy drew amusing when he recalled Lafleur’s return to the Montreal Discussion board in 1989, after Lafleur got here out of retirement to play for the New York Rangers. “It was so magical that when he scored two targets on me, I bought an ovation,” he stated.

The four-time Stanley Cup winner described assembly Lafleur throughout one in all his first practices in 1984, when the legendary participant tapped him on the pads and stated, “Hey child. Welcome to the Canadiens.” He stated that was typical of Lafleur, who at all times had time for a sort phrase or a photograph with teammates and followers alike.

“He took the time as a result of he knew for you, these few phrases will make all of the distinction” Roy stated.

Serge Savard, Lafleur’s buddy and former teammate, stated forward of the ceremony that regardless that Lafleur was the league’s prime scorer and greatest participant, he at all times put the group first.

“He was a group man. He by no means felt larger than the group,” Savard stated outdoors the church. “He was an awesome, humble celebrity.”

Savard stated Lafleur “made a distinction in every single place he went,” noting that he had raised funds for the hospital that handled him within the final months of his life.

Trudeau, who arrived along with his spouse Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, stated the funeral was a chance to thank Lafleur for every thing he did.

“All of the wins, all of the inspiration, the unimaginable video games, but in addition his humanity,” Trudeau stated. “His contribution to the world round him was legendary and an inspiration to us all.”

Nicknamed “The Flower” and “Le Demon Blond,” Lafleur was an NHL Corridor of Famer and five-time Stanley Cup champion, having performed for the Canadiens, New York Rangers and Quebec Nordiques.

The Canadiens hockey membership stated in a press release the Lafleur household accepted a nationwide funeral as a option to share its grief with the neighborhood out of respect for the general public who’ve supported Lafleur through the years.

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Could 3, 2022

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