Guy Lafleur in state: thousands of admirers line up at the Bell Center

The legendary hockey player lies in state on Sunday and Monday.

The public can pay their respects from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday.

The Premier of Quebec, François Legault, and the Mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante, were among the first people to be able to offer their condolences to the representatives of the Lafleur family.

Mr. Legault then delivered a tribute in front of the cameras.

The tribute of François Legault

All of Quebec is in mourning for Guy Lafleur. It brings back incredible memories, those who had the chance to see him play. In those days, we won five Stanley Cups, we were proud. It brought everyone together. Anglophones, Francophones, everyone was behind Guy Lafleur. Everyone was proud that Guy Lafleur was a little guy from the place who became the best player in the National Leaguesaid the Prime Minister.

Although Mr. Legault did not have the chance to meet Guy Lafleur, he remains admiring of the career of the “Blonde Demon”, both on the ice and off it.

I’m happy to see that there are several Quebecers who came to say thank you to him for all the little pleasures we had on Wednesday and Saturday evenings, game nights, to see him enter on the right winghe recalls.

Since 9 a.m. Sunday, many people, including from Moncton, Vancouver and Toronto, have traveled to Montreal to say a last goodbye to their hero.

Several hundred supporters gathered at the Bell Center in Montreal to pay their last respects to Guy Lafleur.

Photo: The Canadian Press/Graham Hughes

I came to pay my respect to Mr. Guy Lafleur, who was my idol. Since the first day I started playing hockey, Guy Lafleur was the player, my player [préféré]. I’m 58, I still play hockey, and sometimes I still think I’m himsaid Yves Martineau, an admirer of the hockey player who was in the queue.

For its part, a group from Acadia traveled 10 hours to be able to attend the event. We took off yesterday and we had to sleep at the hotel. […] We thought that was important. We are old fans of Guy Lafleur and we find that these are emotions that we did not want [manquer]said one of them.

Some admirers brought souvenirs, such as jerseys and photographs autographed by Guy Lafleur. These symbols recall Guy Lafleur’s generosity to the community.

Many say he’s the one who gave the most autographs in the history of Quebec, it’s still not nothing, it means that there was demand! It also means that he was ready to take the time it takes to sign his autographstestified Mr. Legault.

Another fan had met Guy Lafleur at an event in Bagotville. The legendary hockey player had brought a stack of photos to hand out. Sitting behind a folding table and without an umbrella during a hot summer day, he had kept his position until everyone had their autograph, remembers this fan in front of the Bell Center.

For the third time in its history, the Bell Center is transformed into a burning chapel to celebrate one of the great heroes of the Canadiens.

Photo: Courtesy nh.com

The Lafleur family wanted to organize tribute ceremonies in the image of the former hockey player: simple and accessible. The Bell Center has been transformed into a burning chapel.

Two large banners surrounded the one usually installed in the heights of the arena with the number 10 of Lafleur. The Stanley Cup, which Lafleur won five times with the Montreal Canadiens, beamed in the background of the deceased’s coffin. The Hart, Art-Ross, Conn-Smythe and Ted-Lindsay trophies sat on one side, while the family sat on the other.

Young and old, many dressed in the mythical “number 10” came to say a last goodbye to Mr. Lafleur.

Former Lafleur teammates also paraded through the Ardent Chapel. The current players of the Canadian were to pass at the end of the afternoon.

A state funeral will be held Tuesday, May 3, beginning at 11 a.m. at Marie-Reine-du-Monde Cathedral.

The “blond Demon” died on April 22, at the age of 70, from lung cancer.