Bernard “Boom Boom” Geoffrion passes away
Bernard “Boom Boom” Geoffrion was one of many hockey players to claim the invention of the slapshot, but whoever it was, he was definitely the one who made it famous.
Geoffrion, who played 16 seasons in the NHL between 1950 and 1968 and spent 14 with his hometown Montreal Canadiens, died Saturday of stomach cancer at an Atlanta hospital. He was 75. The man nicknamed for his thunderous slapper registered 393 goals and 428 assists in his NHL career. Ironically, he will have his number 5 jersey retired by the Habs at a ceremony before Saturday night’s game against the New York Rangers, with whom he spent his final two seasons.
Geoffrion was one of the most feared goal scorers of his era and was named to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972. But off the ice, he was also known for his practical jokes and outgoing personality. But as good as he was, Geoffrion could’ve been even better were it not for a string of injuries and illness that defined his late career and followed him into retirement. He battled ulcers that cut short coaching stints with the Atlanta Flames and the Rangers and forced him to have part of his stomach removed. In the 1990s, he wrestled with prostate cancer and the loss of vision in his right eye.
Still, there’s no denying in his youth Geoffrion was as talented as they come and an integral part of a Canadiens dynasty that won five consecutive Stanley Cups between 1956-1960. Geoffrion won the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie in 1952. During his career he also won two Art Ross Trophies as the league’s top scorer and the 1961 Hart Memorial Trophy as most valuable player.
Later,
Kenaz
Bernard “Boom Boom” Geoffrion was one of many hockey players to claim the invention of the slapshot, but whoever it was, he was definitely the one who made it famous.
Geoffrion, who played 16 seasons in the NHL between 1950 and 1968 and spent 14 with his hometown Montreal Canadiens, died Saturday of stomach cancer at an Atlanta hospital. He was 75. The man nicknamed for his thunderous slapper registered 393 goals and 428 assists in his NHL career. Ironically, he will have his number 5 jersey retired by the Habs at a ceremony before Saturday night’s game against the New York Rangers, with whom he spent his final two seasons.
Geoffrion was one of the most feared goal scorers of his era and was named to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972. But off the ice, he was also known for his practical jokes and outgoing personality. But as good as he was, Geoffrion could’ve been even better were it not for a string of injuries and illness that defined his late career and followed him into retirement. He battled ulcers that cut short coaching stints with the Atlanta Flames and the Rangers and forced him to have part of his stomach removed. In the 1990s, he wrestled with prostate cancer and the loss of vision in his right eye.
Still, there’s no denying in his youth Geoffrion was as talented as they come and an integral part of a Canadiens dynasty that won five consecutive Stanley Cups between 1956-1960. Geoffrion won the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie in 1952. During his career he also won two Art Ross Trophies as the league’s top scorer and the 1961 Hart Memorial Trophy as most valuable player.
Later,
Kenaz
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