Ex-players recall fond memories of legend Lafleur at funeral
Montreal Canadiens legend Guy Lafleur was remembered at a national funeral Tuesday as a father, a teammate and a person of exceptional generosity who inspired generations of Quebecers both on and off the ice.
Chants of “Guy! Guy! Guy!” could be heard as the casket was taken from a black hearse ahead of the ceremony at Mary Queen of the World cathedral after a procession that began at the Canadiens’ home arena.
From the red, white and blue Canadiens flag draping the coffin to the jerseys in the pews and the Stanley Cup-winning attendees, the ceremony was infused with nods to the world of hockey and the team that Lafleur led to some of its greatest triumphs.
Michel Lacroix, the Canadiens announcer, lent his familiar voice to the proceedings as he introduced speakers by Hall of Fame status, Stanley Cups won and jersey number. Habs legends Yvan Cournoyer, Larry Robinson, Guy Carbonneau and Patrick Roy were among the first to pay tribute to Lafleur, who died on April 22 at age 70 after battling lung cancer.
“Guy once said: ‘Play every game as if it is your last one,’ ” Robinson said. “Nobody embodied that philosophy better than Guy. Not only did he play each game to the fullest, he tried to live his life to the fullest off the ice as well.” Carbonneau recounted showing up at his first Canadiens training camp and having to pinch himself when he was put on a line with his childhood idol. At that point, Lafleur had won four consecutive Stanley Cups as well as a host of individual awards.
“In spite of that, he did everything in his power to make me feel at home,” the former captain said. “That was Guy Lafleur, a superstar but also one of the boys. He was one of the most generous and accessible people I ever met.”
Roy drew a laugh when he recalled Lafleur’s return to the Montreal Forum in 1989, after Lafleur came out of retirement to play for the New York Rangers. “It was so magical that when he scored two goals on me, I got an ovation,” he said.
Those attending included Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Quebec Premier François Legault and many current and former Montreal Canadiens.