Sixty years ago, Canadiens icon Guy Lafleur was getting set to play in his first NHL all-star game in Montreal. And Lafleur told THN the all-star honor helped him realize a dream.
Sixty years ago this week, Montreal Canadiens icon Guy Lafleur told THN playing in his first NHL all-star game was the realization of a dream. That samel year, Lafleur broke the 50-goal mark for the first time in his NHL playing career, but in this story from THN's Jan. 24, 1975 edition -- Vol. 28, Issue 16 -- Lafleur's attention was on playing in his first all-star game that was hosted in Montreal, where his beloved Habs fans were there to cheer him on.
SELECTION FOR LAFLEUR FULFILLS LIFETIME DREAM
By Chris Zelkovich
MONTREAL — It’s shaping up as one of those years for Guy Lafleur; one of those years in which everything goes right and absolutely nothing goes wrong.
As the current National Hockey League season reached its half-way point the Montreal Canadiens’ right winger was enjoying the greatest season of his four-year career. He was third in the league’s scoring race with 62 points, second in goals with 29. had an impressive plus-20 defense rating and was playing hockey with a style normally restricted to men such as Gilbert Perreault and Bobby Orr.
The second half of the season already has one more treat in store for Lafleur. When the 28th annual NHL All Star Game is played Jan. 21 at the Forum in Montreal. Lafleur will be in the lineup for the Prince of Wales Conference, playing his first All Star game in front of home fans. It will be like a dream come true.
“Everybody dreams of playing in the All Star game,” Lafleur says. “And playing in Montreal will mean a little extra. These fans have been very patient with me and it would mean something to me to play my first All Star game here.”
Watching Lafleur in his first All Star game will mean a little extra to the Canadiens’ fans, too. First of all, this will be the twelfth All Star contest played in Montreal and while All Star games generally don’t need added attractions when you’ve seen 11 you’ve probably seen ‘em all and it doesn’t hurt to have a little extra interest in the game.
Secondly, Lafleur’s All Star debut.’ will be as much a dream come true for the Montreal fans as it will be for Lafleur. They’ve waited patiently for him to develop into a star ever since he scored 13 goals his last season of Junior hockey with the Quebec Remparts, four years ago. This is the year their patience has been rewarded.
Lafleur has suddenly blossomed into an exciting and effective performer this season. He was the best right winger in the league through the first half of the season and amazed both fans and teammates with his play.
Lafleur has become more than a goal-scorer. He’s become a goalpainter, with almost every goal he scores a work of art. At 23, Lafleur has become a Picasso on ice.
“In four yews he’s become a hell of a hockey player,” says Kansas City coach Bep Guidolin, who’ll have the pleasure of coaching Lafleur on Jan. 21. “He’s everywhere at once and what speed. All the clubs that have been through Montreal have told me about Lafleur. And they weren’t exaggerating. He’s amazing.”
Lafleur has been amazing, but no more amazing than his mysterious rise from potential star to star. He managed to score as many as 29 goals one year but never appeared to control the game they way he did as a Junior. Until this year, anyway.
“Guy is doing the same things now that he’s done in practice for the last three years,” says teammate Pierre Bouchard. “He’s learned to relax now and he’s learned to stop worrying about all the great guys they compare him to.”
The secrets of Lafleur’s transition are, as Bouchard says, his ability to
cope with people compaing him to Jean Beliveau and Rocket Richard; improved confidence in himself and plain, old-fashioned hard work.
“I just decided this summer that I would go out there and just do me best,” Lafleur says. “I know what I can do and I realize that I have to play up to my standards and not anyone else’s.
“I have more confidence in myself, too. Scotty (coach Bowman) put me on the ice more often and that showed me he’s got more confidence in me. It’s a 50-50 thing. If you’ve got confidence in yourself and the coach has confidence in you, you’ll play better.”
Canadiens’ assistant coach Claude Ruel sees Lafleur’s key to success as something simple than confidence.
“Guy’s success is easy to explain,” he says. “It’s hard work. When you keep skating like he does the puck is going to come to you.”
Work, confidence, maturity — the three have combined to make it a year to remember for Lafleur. After 40 games he has a 45-point lead in the Canadiens’ Molson Cup race and appears to be on his way to winning the most money in Molson Cup history — $6,000. He’s already matched his previous season’s high for goals and is only two points shy of his personal high points total.
He’s won a spot in the All Star game and if he maintains his current standard of play will make the official All Star team at season’s end.
If that isn’t enough, he and his wife Lise are expecting their, first child in Junes.
Yes, it looks like one of those years.