Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec pay a last tribute to Guy Lafleur

On site, many representatives from various communities in the Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec regions were keen to attend.

Barely retired, the Canadiens’ equipment manager for the past 35 seasons, Pierre Gervais from Trois-Rivières, worked alongside Guy Lafleur. It was the legendary forward who was one of the first to welcome him to the Canadiens’ training camp at the Forum in 1984.

He was a people guy, he was a humble guy, a very down to earth guy, that’s what I liked a lot about Guylaunched Pierre Gervais on the forecourt of the cathedral.

According to him, a state funeral, it was the minimum he deserved. I couldn’t have seen anything else.

For his part, the former head coach of the Draveurs of Trois-Rivières Michel Bergeron knew Guy Lafleur in several facets.

Then head coach of the New York Rangers, the team’s training camp was held at the Coliseum in Trois-Rivières in 1988. Guy Lafleur returned to the pros.

The Colosseum was filled to capacity and once again Guy stole the show. He had scored the first goal of training camp. It was the start of a great adventure. That’s where I liked directing Guy, that’s obvious. There I met the mansaid Michel Bergeron.

The two men then found themselves the following year with the Nordiques de Québec.

A role model for young people

It means a lot to be able to be herementioned one of the goalkeepers of the Montreal Canadiens, Bécancourois Samuel Montembeault, who traveled two hours to be able to be in the front row.

” I am very happy to be here and to be able to pay a last tribute to Guy. Guy meant so much to the organization and the province of Quebec. »

Montembeault was on the Bell Center ice when the Habs organization paid tribute to its famous number 10, before the April 24 game against the Boston Bruins. The spectators present reserved a ten-minute ovation for the Blond Demon.

I thought it was never going to stop, confided the cerberus. We saw the day, of his death, on social networks, only photos of him. We have seen how much it has impacted many people in the province.

Former Canadian and Drummondville Voltigeurs player Guillaume Latendresse underlined the greatness of the man that Guy Lafleur was both on and off the ice.

We know how he marked the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Each Quebec player who enters this league is aware of his feats of arms and all that he has managed to do. It is certain, at the level of the alumni, that it is important for us to come and show our support and all that he has done for us, for the Montreal Canadiens and the fans.he added.

The unanimous political class

Many political figures from the region were also able to attend the funeral.

The MNA for Nicolet-Bécancour, Donald Martel, expressed his interest in being on site at the time of the announcement that a state funeral would be held.

For me, Guy Lafleur represents a lot, he said. It is a privilege to be there.

A sentiment shared by his colleague Sonia Lebel, MP for Champlain and President of the Treasury Board.

Whether you’re a hockey fan or not, I think Guy Lalfleur has marked us all. He is someone who has experienced a lot of personal difficulties, but who has always been there for people. So I think it’s the least we can do to be there for him for this final tribute.

There’s a big piece of the soul of Quebecers, Quebecers of my generation in particular, who clung to those evenings, who clung to a character who demonstrated all his humanity during his career, after his career. We feel the pain and the emotion of everyonesaid the leader of the Bloc Québécois, Yves-François Blanchet.

According to him, all the cities where Guy Lafleur has played, as much in the junior as in the professionals, owe him one.

With information from Jonathan Roberge