[blueandwhite]

Boom Boom Geoffrion's number is raised to the rafters tonight. I just read he can't make it to Montreal, that he's dying from stomach cancer and is going to stay in Atlanta while his boys go to montreal for the ceremony.
Talk about an emotional one. I remember Boom Boom so well. The Canadiens have such classy guys in their history.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Mar. 9, 2006. 06:37 AM -TORONTO STAR
Bernard (Boom Boom) Geoffrion's long-awaited sweater retirement will likely be a more sombre affair after the Montreal Canadiens great was diagnosed with stomach cancer.

The 75-year-old, who is credited with inventing the slap shot, has vowed to attend the ceremony at the Bell Centre on Saturday despite the disease, which was discovered during a surgical procedure last week in Atlanta.
"He's not strong, but he definitely wants to be in Montreal for the ceremony," Geoffrion's daughter, Linda Monahan, told TV station RDI yesterday.
She added that the two-time NHL scoring champion "feels definitely better."
Geoffrion's No.5 is to be lifted to the Bell Centre ceiling before a game against the New York Rangers, his team for his last two seasons in the late 1960s.

(I don't know blueandwhite girl, the two reports I read on it, says he is still trying to make it there...Is that jsut wishful thinking on his part?...did his condition get worse? )

[blueandwhite]

Sat morn paper says they've placed him in a hospice in Atlanta - would love it if he actually made it to montreal, though.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

Sat morn paper says they've placed him in a hospice in Atlanta - would love it if he actually made it to montreal, though.

Just not a cool way for an NHL Legend to go...Legends can't pass away in Hospices in Atlanta...I mean skating off into the Toronto sun set I can see (sorry couldn't resist)...but a hospice for a guy with the name Boom-Boom...just not right...maybe they waited a bot to long to retire the jersey?

[blueandwhite]

I know, i think maybe they did wait too long - although i suppose he should ride off into the Montreal sunset.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

I know, i think maybe they did wait too long - although i suppose he should ride off into the Montreal sunset.

Yeah, that all scenic and all...and maybe its the cool movie version...but in the real NHL I thought its Toronto wherre they ride off into the sunset?

[Lefty Noob]

What a tragic turn to this story. "Boom Boom" has passed.

ATLANTA (AP) -- Hockey Hall of Famer Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion, who was credited with inventing the slap shot and helped the Montreal Canadiens win six Stanley Cups in the 1950s and early '60s, died Saturday after a brief battle with stomach cancer. He was 75.

...

Geoffrion's death came on the day his No. 5 jersey was to be retired by the Canadiens... The Canadiens planned to go on with a scheduled ceremony to retire Geoffrion's jersey before Saturday night's game against the Rangers. Geoffrion's wife, Marlene, his three children and his grandchildren were all expected to attend.

[blueandwhite]

wow. that is just so sad.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

What a tragic turn to this story. "Boom Boom" has passed.

Well, at least the retiring of the number becomes a real tribute to the man.

[Gotham Dark Knight]