T1B

On the night his #5 was going to be raised to the Bell Centre rafters, Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion has died of stomach cancer. :cry: :cry: :cry:

In accordance with his final wishes, his #5 will be raised to the rafters tonight. There isn't going to be a dry eye in the house.

Sad indeed. Geoffrion kept close ties with the Habs organization and was looking forward to this day. He was so excited and overwhelmed to know that his jersey would be retired next to Richard's and Beliveau's jerseys.

Despite the fact he was very sick last week, Geoffrion made it clear he still wanted to be part of the ceremony. The Habs had a plane ready for him. Yesterday evening his family told the local media he was no longer conscient and it was a question of hours before he would join the "Forum ghosts."

RIP Boom-Boom Geoffrion, thank you for your loyal services.

RIP Boom Boom

I'll be settling down to watching a full night of hockey after I write this post. I'll definitely have my eyes on the pregame of the Canadiens-Rangers...should be an emotional in Montreal.

Rangers have the #5 on their helmets, they showed a crystal engraved heart that the players of the Rangers are going to give Bernie's family.

Bernard "Boom-Boom" Geoffrion New York Rangers

A player 1966-68
A coach 1968-69
A friend forever

He picked this date because 69 years ago his father in law, Howie Morenz laid in state at the old Forum after dying March 8 , 1937.

What a great ceremony, I was choked up watching it.

RIP #5

Cross Traffic wrote:Rangers have the #5 on their helmets, they showed a crystal engraved heart that the players of the Rangers are going to give Bernie's family.

Bernard "Boom-Boom" Geoffrion New York Rangers

A player 1966-68
A coach 1968-69
A friend forever

He picked this date because 69 years ago his father in law, Howie Morenz laid in state at the old Forum after dying March 8 , 1937.

I thought I heard also that the last game at the old Forum was on March 11 as well.

Cool ceremony and Huet continues to be a on roll for the Habs in goal...ironically, his 5th shutout of the season...the number of the night. Is Aebischer even going to get a sniff at the starting job if he keeps this up? The Lightning looked like crap against the Leafs and they continue to grasp for dear life onto a playoff spot. The Canadiens look like a team primed for the playoffs with their goaltending and their new defensive style under Gainey. Jersey got tagged by the Penguins tonight and the Canadiens are only 3 out 6th place in the East with a game in hand. Atlanta is only 4 back of Tampa for 8th place and the Leafs and Islanders are 6 back. Shaping up for a good race in the East.

"Boom Boom" played before my time, so I remember him best from his appearances
in the early Miller Lite commericials.

RIP

Former Montreal Canadien Bernard "Boum Boum" Geoffrion poses for a photograph during a news conference in this, Oct. 15, 2005 photo in Montreal announcing his jersey will be retired. Geoffrion died in an Atlanta hospital on Saturday, March 11, 2006 of stomach cancer. He was 75.
(AP Photo/Paul Chiasson, CP)

Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion, of the Montreal Canadiens and leading scorer of the National Hockey League, is shown in action in Dec. 1954. (AP Photo)

Shoalzie wrote:

Cross Traffic wrote:Rangers have the #5 on their helmets, they showed a crystal engraved heart that the players of the Rangers are going to give Bernie's family.

Bernard "Boom-Boom" Geoffrion New York Rangers

A player 1966-68
A coach 1968-69
A friend forever

He picked this date because 69 years ago his father in law, Howie Morenz laid in state at the old Forum after dying March 8 , 1937.

I thought I heard also that the last game at the old Forum was on March 11 as well.

It was.

How fitting is it that he would also die on the exact same date his father in law's casket laid in state at the forum..

Seeing both of those sweaters raised and hanging side by side in the rafters was a fitting tribute to one of this game's true legends.

Even if he was a Hab...

The inventor of the slap shot..
RIP Boom Boom..

They dragged out all of the old coots for this one. Except for Jean Beliveau. I wonder why he wasn't there? He's in decent health. I guess there is truth to the rumors that they didn't like each other at all.

I'lll say this.. No one does the pomp & circumstance like the Habs. It's almost like watching a religious ceremony or a coronation.

Geoffrion thought he should have been the captain when Rocket retired in 1960. Instead the Habs went with Beliveau.

Butch Bouchard was there and he is 85.

Beliveau was in Barbados.