Hockey: Guy Lapointe’s Number is Retired by the Montreal Canadiens

Few things in sports move me in a positive way at this point in time and my life. One exception is the fact the Montreal Canadiens retired the number of their great defenseman, Guy Lapointe, last Saturday night.

One can argue which was the greatest hockey team–and I opt for the Canadiens from 1956-1960, as they won five straight Stanley Cup titles.

Not far behind are the (1976-1979) Canadiens, who won four straight Stanley Cup crowns. What really is not open for debate, is that the three great defenseman on those (’76-’79) teams, Guy Lapointe, Larry Robinson and Serge Savard were the greatest such trio in history.

Now Lapointe has joined Robinson and Savard as a Canadiens’ player whose number is retired. I sure wish I was there to see it.

One personal note, I rode a bus overnight to Montreal in March 1996 (my butt is just now recovering) because I “had” to see a game at The Montreal Forum, before it closed.

Arriving early in the morning before checking into a hotel I went to a coffee shop. Incredibly, Guy Lapointe walked in and we chatted.

The conversation turned to his big goal vs the Flyers in game one of the 1976 finals and of course about the defensive trio. However, as “cool” as that was, seeing Guy exude charm and kindness for those assembled in the coffee shop is the highlight I will not forget. Congrats Guy!