Guy Lafleur’s prowess on the ice has aroused the passions of generations of immigrants, in addition to facilitating their integration into their new adopted country.
“All my father’s interest in football moved to hockey and the Montreal Canadiens when he arrived here,” recalls José Luis Andres, who immigrated from Uruguay with his parents in 1969.
And of all the CH players, the favorite of father and son – and countless other newcomers – was the Blond Demon.
They saw him play a few times, first for the Quebec Remparts, then for the Montreal Canadiens.
“We went to the Forum, we were spectators among the others. Hockey was our way of integrating into Quebec culture,” says the 60-year-old.
“Guy Lafleur was a bridge between communities, regardless of their language or ethnic origin,” confirms Jack Jedwab, specialist in sports history and president of the Association for Canadian Studies.
“At the time, when we arrived in Quebec, we had almost no choice but to become a fan of the Canadiens,” says Jean-Patrice Martel, author of the book Tell me about the Canadians.
“Nowadays it’s a bit more difficult,” he adds with a laugh, referring to this season of misery.
Guy Lafleur | 1951-2022
March 30, 1991 – Ovation for Guy Lafleur during his last game at the Forum in a Nordiques uniform. Archives / Le Journal de Montreal
Guy Lafleur during his years with Le Canadien Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images
Guy Lafleur André Toto Gingras THE MONTREAL JOURNAL/QMI AGENCY
The Canadian Hockey Club presents the recipients of the Guy-Lafleur Excellence and Merit Awards for 2017-2018 CHANTAL POIRIER / LE JOURNAL DE MONTREAL
Guy Lafleur during the last game of his farewell tour at the Bell Center on Sunday December 5, 2010. Sébastien St-Jean / 24Heures / QMI Agency
September 11, 1971 – On the eve of his first training camp with the Montreal Canadiens, for the first time Guy Lafleur took the opportunity to skate on the Forum ice rink. In the photo he is with Jean Béliveau. Archives / Le Journal de Montreal
Autographed photo of Guy Lafleur in his Quebec Remparts uniform Courtesy
Guy Lafleur as part of the evening for the retirement of Guy Lafleur’s number 4 at the Slush Puppie Center in Gatineau on Wednesday September 29, 2021 MARTIN CHEVALIER / LE JOURNAL DE MONTREAL
Guy Lafleur and his banner as part of the evening for the retirement of Guy Lafleur’s number 4 at the Slush Puppie Center in Gatineau on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 MARTIN CHEVALIER / LE JOURNAL DE MONTREAL
Guy Lafleur’s last game with the Quebec Nordiques, in Montreal on March 30, 1991 Archives / Le Journal de Montreal
Sculpture by Guy Lafleur in bronze Archives / Le Journal de Montreal
Guy Lafleur, Pee-Wee Quebec Pee-Wee Tournament Collection, Modern Photo Fund
Guy Lafleur, Pee-Wee Quebec Pee-Wee Tournament Collection, Modern Photo Fund
Guy Lafleur and the Art Ross, Conn Smythe and Lester B. Pearson trophies, Montreal Forum, 1976 Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images
Guy Lafleur, then a member of Team Canada, signs autographs during practice for the Canada Cup, Montreal 1976 Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images
Guy Lafleur and goaltender Murray Bannerman #30 of the Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Forum 1980 Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images
Guy Lafleur and goaltender Mike Palmateer of the Toronto Maple Leafs Dick Darrell/Toronto Star via Getty Images
March 7, 1975 – Guy Lafleur becomes the first player in Canadiens history to reach 100 points in a single season in an 8-4 win over the Washington Capitals Archives / Le Journal de Montreal
Guy Lafleur on the bench during Game 3 against the Boston Bruins, Boston Gardens, 1977 Dick Raphael/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images
Announcement of Guy Lafleur’s first retirement The Archives / The Journal of Montreal
The QMJHL retires Guy Lafleur’s number 4 at the Videotron Center in Quebec, Thursday October 28, 2021 STEVENS LEBLANC / JOURNAL DE QUEBEC / QMI AGENCY
An idol
But even before immigrating to Canada, Alex Sherbatov, originally from Moscow, dreamed of his son “playing like Guy Lafleur”.
“He was such a free and charismatic player with his long blond hair. For me and many Soviets, he was simply exceptional,” recalls the father of Eliezer Sherbatov, who until recently played for a professional hockey team in Ukraine. The latter fled the bombs at the very beginning of the invasion to finally return to Quebec.
Close to the world
The legendary kindness is another of the qualities of number 10 repeatedly cited by immigrants interviewed by The newspaper.
Courtesy picture
For Dr. Tahira Ahmed, her meeting with number 10 is “a dream come true”. We see her in a box at the Bell Center in 2010 with Huguette Rousseau, the wife of former Canadian player Bobby Rousseau.
“When I met him, I asked if I could take a picture of him. He told me “no! You absolutely have to be in the picture too,” recalls Dr. Tahira Ahmed, who arrived from Pakistan in the 1970s.
Even today, the wall of his medical office is adorned with photos of his family… and a huge portrait of Guy Lafleur, signed.
Team spirit
The septuagenarian is convinced that newcomers should be encouraged to practice a sport.
“Even if people don’t speak English or French, there is a way to be understood. Team spirit takes over, and it’s a great way to get to know a new culture,” she says.
She herself has lost count of the number of conversations she has had with strangers about the Sainte-Flanelle or the performances of her children, both of whom were introduced to the national sport at a very young age.
