Geoffrion stricken by cancer
Mar 8, 2006 6:49:03 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2006 6:49:03 GMT -5
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Bernard Geoffrion plans to be in Montreal on Saturday for the retirement of the No. 5 sweater he wore with Hall of Fame distinction for 14 seasons with the Canadiens - even though doctors have told him he's suffering from stomach cancer.
The dreaded disease was discovered during a recent surgical procedure in Atlanta.
Canadiens Alumni Association president Rejean Houle has been in contact with the Geoffrion family on several occasions in recent days and yesterday was assured by "Boom Boom" that he would be in Montreal for the ceremony before the Canadiens-Rangers game.
"I spoke to the family a few days ago and was told he wasn't feeling well, but I was on the phone with him yesterday and he told me he was feeling better.
" 'Don't worry, I'm gonna be there,' he told me. 'I'm looking forward to being there. It's an honour I've been waiting for all of my life, and there's no way I'm not gonna be there. The doctor says I should be there.' You know the Boomer. He's always been a tough guy.
"The entire family is coming for the ceremony. We're doing everything we can to make all of them as comfortable as possible. Plane reservations ... hotels. They're coming in from all parts of the United States ... the first time the whole family has been together. It'll be a great affair."
Geoffrion, 75, is the third Canadiens player to have his sweater retired this season. On November 12, the No. 12 worn by Dickie Moore and Yvan Cournoyer was raised to the Bell Centre rafters alongside those of Jacques Plante, Doug Harvey, Jean Beliveau, Howie Morenz, Maurice Richard, Guy Lafleur and Henri Richard.
Geoffrion scored 371 goals in 766 games with the Canadiens, another 22 when he came out of retirement to join the Rangers for 117 games over two seasons.
Geoffrion was a Calder Trophy winner in 1952, with 30 goals and 24 assists, a year in which he finished sixth overall in NHL scoring, and behind only Elmer Lach among Canadiens point-getters. He's a two-time winner of the Art Ross Trophy, and also won the Hart in 1961 when he became only the second NHLer, behind Maurice Richard, to score 50 goals in a season.
© The Gazette (Montreal) 2006
Bernard Geoffrion plans to be in Montreal on Saturday for the retirement of the No. 5 sweater he wore with Hall of Fame distinction for 14 seasons with the Canadiens - even though doctors have told him he's suffering from stomach cancer.
The dreaded disease was discovered during a recent surgical procedure in Atlanta.
Canadiens Alumni Association president Rejean Houle has been in contact with the Geoffrion family on several occasions in recent days and yesterday was assured by "Boom Boom" that he would be in Montreal for the ceremony before the Canadiens-Rangers game.
"I spoke to the family a few days ago and was told he wasn't feeling well, but I was on the phone with him yesterday and he told me he was feeling better.
" 'Don't worry, I'm gonna be there,' he told me. 'I'm looking forward to being there. It's an honour I've been waiting for all of my life, and there's no way I'm not gonna be there. The doctor says I should be there.' You know the Boomer. He's always been a tough guy.
"The entire family is coming for the ceremony. We're doing everything we can to make all of them as comfortable as possible. Plane reservations ... hotels. They're coming in from all parts of the United States ... the first time the whole family has been together. It'll be a great affair."
Geoffrion, 75, is the third Canadiens player to have his sweater retired this season. On November 12, the No. 12 worn by Dickie Moore and Yvan Cournoyer was raised to the Bell Centre rafters alongside those of Jacques Plante, Doug Harvey, Jean Beliveau, Howie Morenz, Maurice Richard, Guy Lafleur and Henri Richard.
Geoffrion scored 371 goals in 766 games with the Canadiens, another 22 when he came out of retirement to join the Rangers for 117 games over two seasons.
Geoffrion was a Calder Trophy winner in 1952, with 30 goals and 24 assists, a year in which he finished sixth overall in NHL scoring, and behind only Elmer Lach among Canadiens point-getters. He's a two-time winner of the Art Ross Trophy, and also won the Hart in 1961 when he became only the second NHLer, behind Maurice Richard, to score 50 goals in a season.
© The Gazette (Montreal) 2006
