Hockey fans say final goodbye to Guy Lafleur: ‘You couldn’t meet a better person’

Hockey fans from across Quebec and beyond descended on the Bell Centre in the thousands Sunday to pay their respects and honour Montreal Canadiens hockey legend Guy Lafleur.

Fans donned Lafleur jerseys and brought old Canadiens memorabilia, laid flowers at the Lafleur statue outside the arena and lined up for hours to say goodbye to number 10.

“I woke up and I said, ‘I gotta be there,’” said fan Daniel Goyer. “He was a great guy, he was awesome, he was amazing this guy. Like when you talked to him, it’s like your best friend.

“I think I saw him here four years when he won the Stanley Cup. I went almost each game, every time I was always there.”

Lafleur died April 22 at age 70 following a battle with lung cancer.

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Sunday was the first of two public visitation days where fans could pay their respects to the man who forever marked the province’s culture, became synonymous with one of the most storied franchises in sports history, and inspired millions with his kindness and winning ways.

Fans will have another opportunity to pay homage to Lafleur on Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. A national funeral is scheduled for Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral in downtown Montreal.

“I met him a few times too,” said fan Yvon Asselin. “You couldn’t meet a better person, gentle with everybody.”

“That guy was friends with everybody. Nobody hated Guy Lafleur. Everybody loved him.”

The Flower, as he was nicknamed, rested at centre ice inside the Bell Centre for the two-day public viewing.

“Every time he touched the puck, everybody stood up from their seat because you knew something was going to happen,” said Denis Labonte.

“His genuine human part of him, being very open and nice to everybody, available for everybody. I think I appreciated that.”

Lafleur helped the Canadiens win the Stanley Cup in 1973, and then again four more times from 1976 to 1979.

“I don’t know if we’ll every see another Guy Lafleur,” said Raymond St-Pierre, the father of former Canadiens player Martin St-Pierre.

“He was such an icon and I met him a couple of times off the ice and he was such a gentleman. He was incredible. He was one of those guys who would always sign autographs, he would never say no.”

At one point while waiting in line on a warm and sunny spring day in Montreal, fans broke into a chant of “Guy, Guy, Guy!”

“He was a person who you idolized,” said Émilie Lépine. “We all wanted a father like that – so talented with such a good heart. He really took the time with all his fans.”

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Many fans shared warm childhood memories of watching Lafleur on television, or in person, or wanting to be like him while skating on their backyard rinks as kids.

“I remember going to see him when he played for the Quebec Remparts, when I was only about nine, 10 years old,” said Guy Labonté. “I still remember him. He was a far better player than most of the players on the ice at the time. He was fantastic.”

“We would build skating rinks across from the arena,” recounted Andre Godin. “At the time everybody wanted to be called Guy Lafleur. We would play rock-paper-scissors to see who was going to be called Guy Lafleur.”

“My dad… was talking about him every time,” said Peyton Bourré. “He was showing me videos, photos, it’s almost as if I’ve seen him play. So it’s big to come here and see him for the last time.”

Once inside the building, fans say seeing Lafleur lie in state – and saying a final farewell to the legend who touched the hearts of a nation – was emotional.

“I had the chance to speak with Lafleur’s wife,” said Maurice Cormier. “I didn’t know if I would be able to speak. I started crying. I said thank you because she took care of our idol her whole life.”

Montrealers will get to pay tribute to the hockey great one last time on Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Live coverage of the Guy Lafleur state funeral begins at 10:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday on Sportsnet and livestreaming on Sportsnet Now.