Quebec Premier Legault remembers Islanders star Mike Bossy as a “fighter” | The Canadian News


Mike Bossy was a fighter who wanted to beat the cancer that eventually killed him, Quebec Premier Francois Legault said Thursday before attending the funeral service for the Hockey Hall of Fame player north of Montreal.

Bossy, leader of the New York Islanders’ Stanley Cup dynasty in the early 1980s, died April 14 of lung cancer at age 65.

13

Family and friends gather for funeral services for New York Islanders legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Bossy on Thursday, April 28, 2022 in Ste.Theres, Que.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

23

Quebec Premier François Legault offers condolences to the family of New York Islanders legend and Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Mike Bossy before funeral services Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Ste.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

33

Family members follow the urn of New York Islanders Hockey Hall of Fame player Mike Bossy during funeral services Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Ste.Theres, Que.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Legault told reporters at a ceremony in Ste-Thérèse, Que, north of Montreal, that he had developed a friendship with Bossy over the years.

Story continues below ad

Bossy, who helped the Islanders win the Cup four years in a row from 1980-83, was a fighter, the premier said.

READ MORE: Mike Bossy, Canadian field hockey icon and New York Islanders legend, dies at 65.

“When he found out he was sick, we talked and he said, “I’m going to fight and I’m going to come back.”

Legault added that he loved watching Bossy’s field hockey analysis on television for TVA Sports.

Hundreds of fans, field hockey personalities and journalists paid their last respects to Bossy at a wake on Wednesday. Visitors were treated to a floral arrangement in the shape of 22 – Bossy’s jersey number – and his Islanders jersey signed by several former NHL stars, including Maurice Richard, Guy Lafleur, Jean Beliveau and Gordie Howe.

Bossy won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1982. He scored the winning Cup goal in 1982 and 83, one of two players to do so in two consecutive seasons.

Legault said the public’s reaction to the deaths of Mike Bossy and Lafleur – who died of cancer last week – shows how field hockey is able to unite Quebecers.

“We don’t just see it in Quebec; we see it everywhere. People are torn, they’ve been torn. Should we wear a mask or not?” said Legault about the divisions in society over the COVID-19 pandemic. “But in field hockey everybody agrees, and it’s nice to see Quebecers united behind Bossy, behind Lafleur. I hope it will inspire us for the future.”

Story continues below the announcement

2022 The Canadian Press




Reference-globalnews.ca

Leave a Comment