SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — The Late Guy Lafleur, O.C.
April 26, 2022
Honourable senators, I rise today to express deep sadness as we mourn the passing of the iconic Guy Lafleur. In the days since the news of his passing, countless tributes have poured in from across the country affirming what we all know to be true about Mr. Lafleur: that he was a remarkable talent and a beloved individual.
Guy Lafleur was my favourite hockey player growing up and a childhood idol of mine, as he was for so many hockey fans. His distinct style, electrifying performance and prolific goal scoring were always a thrill to watch and made him a player like no other.
Lafleur’s hockey career was truly outstanding. He won five Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988, and was named one of the 100 greatest NHL players in 2017.
His many achievements solidified his legacy as a dominant figure in Montreal hockey history and one of the best players of all time.
Guy Lafleur’s commitment and devotion to the beloved game of hockey was unwavering even in his post-playing days. For decades following his retirement in 1991, he continued to give back and make countless contributions to the sport, serving as an ambassador to the Montreal Canadiens and establishing the Guy Lafleur Award of Excellence in an annual prize awarded to the top student athlete hockey player in my home province of Quebec.
His contributions went beyond hockey. In his later years, he helped advance cancer research through the Guy Lafleur Fund by supporting the CHUM Foundation, where he himself was a patient.
Mr. Lafleur leaves behind an immeasurable legacy, and his impact is felt throughout the world of hockey and far beyond. He remains deeply adored by millions of Canadians not only for his legendary talent but also for his humble nature off the ice, his generosity and accessibility toward his fan base and, most importantly, for the priceless memories he has given to hockey fans and Canadians, which they will undoubtedly cherish forever.
Guy Lafleur once spoke to a group of young hockey players, and he shared with them some sage advice. He told them to always work hard, always play passionately and play as if it’s the last game of your life.
In closing, colleagues, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the entire Lafleur family and to the millions of hockey fans with whom he forged unique bonds throughout his career.
The glorious chants of “Guy, Guy, Guy!” will be dearly missed and fondly remembered forever. Thank you.
Honourable senators, I rise in the Senate today to pay tribute to hockey legend Guy Lafleur, who passed away last Friday.
It almost feels as though the earth stopped spinning last Friday, especially in Quebec. The news headlines are no longer about Ukraine, the 6% inflation rate or the next wave of the pandemic. There is only one subject that is getting all the attention, and that is the death of the Montreal Canadiens’ number 10, Guy Lafleur, who died of lung cancer at the age of 70.
Since Friday, the country’s television networks have been constantly running footage of the on-ice exploits of this gifted player, an extraordinary and spectacular goal-scorer who was nicknamed “The Flower” by anglophones and “Le Démon blond” by francophones.
Guy Lafleur was the last living superstar of the Montreal Canadiens, after Maurice Richard and Jean Béliveau. More than 35 years after hanging up his skates, Guy Lafleur was still the idol of Quebec hockey fans and revered by an entire nation. His personality, candour and great humility made him a larger-than-life character.
Tributes have been pouring in for the past five days and will probably continue until next week, when a state funeral will be held on May 3 at the Marie-Reine-du-Monde Cathedral in Montreal.
Looking back on Guy Lafleur’s career, it is easy to see how incredibly talented he was. At 12, the young hockey player from Thurso was already dazzling fans at the Quebec City peewee tournament, where he scored 64 goals over three seasons.
In the junior ranks, in 1971, he had a season where he scored 130 goals in 62 games with the Quebec Remparts, in addition to winning the Memorial Cup.
As a Montreal Canadien, Guy Lafleur made history by scoring 50 goals or more for six straight seasons. He won all the individual trophies possible from the National Hockey League, and no less than five Stanley Cups, including four consecutive cups from 1976 to 1979.
By the way, he won his first Stanley Cup in 1973 with teammate Frank Mahovlich, whom several senators know since he sat here for 15 years.
Beyond hockey, Guy Lafleur was a major figure in Quebec pop culture. As far as I am concerned, he contributed as much as or more than Maurice Richard to motivating francophone Quebeckers to succeed in every aspect of society.
Since Friday, tributes have been pouring in for our hero, Guy Lafleur. I felt it was important to join in the accolades here in this chamber.
Thank you to Guy Lafleur for giving so much to hockey fans and to all Canadians. On behalf of the Senate, I would like to offer condolences to his wife, his children and his entire family.
Honourable senators, spring is usually the time when flowers bud and bloom. Unfortunately, last week, one flower was lost to us.
Guy Lafleur, known to fans as “The Flower,” passed away on April 22 after a battle with lung cancer.
The “Thurso Turbo,” as he was also known, played 15 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, winning five Stanley Cups and topping 50 goals and 100 points for six consecutive seasons. He also won three Lester B. Pearson Awards, two Hart Memorial Trophies, the Conn Smythe Trophy, the Maurice Richard Trophy, and the Ted Lindsay Award. He played in six NHL All-Star Games, had his number retired and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Guy Lafleur touched the hearts of many people. All the kids talked about Guy Lafleur and wanted to be like him. Many Quebeckers of every age idolized him.
When fans saw his blond hair flowing behind him as he sped down the ice, they knew that something special was about to happen. Not only was Guy Lafleur one of the best players in the world, but he was and always will be a legend.
I had the opportunity to meet Guy Lafleur and to play against him. When the Canadiens Alumni team went to Maniwaki a few years ago, I had the honour of playing against my childhood idol for $1,000.
Fans lined up for the opportunity to shake Guy’s hand or take a picture with him. As it got closer to game time, some fans started getting nervous because there was still a long line of people waiting to meet Guy. All of a sudden, Guy stood up and called, “Don’t worry, the bus won’t leave for the arena unless I’m in it!” That was a relief to everyone waiting to meet their idol.
I’ve met a lot of beloved public figures, in different lines of work, but when I met Guy Lafleur, I knew I was shaking hands with someone very special, a living legend. I had never seen someone as famous as Guy Lafleur treat fans with such class.
He treated every fan like an old friend. He would show interest in them, which you don’t see too often. He would ask them as many questions as they asked him. Here was an athlete who was one of the best in his sport, who had won multiple trophies and Stanley Cups, but that day, he was just another guy. I was touched by this interaction and wanted to share it with you today.
Guy Lafleur inspired us throughout many springs, but this spring, we are asking him to rest in peace and thanking him for all of the memories.
I offer my condolences to the entire Lafleur family. Our hearts go out to them.
Thank you.
