Guy Lafleur died

[Torn Mind]

Lafleur dies at 70, five-time Cup champion with Canadiens | NHL.com

Hall of Fame forward cornerstone of dynasty, scored at least 50 goals six straight seasons

www.nhl.com

 

[esquared]

And Mike Bossy just a few days ago.
Both from lung cancer which seems a little surprising with both of them being athletes.

RIP you two.

 

[Torn Mind]

And Mike Bossy just a few days ago.
Both from lung cancer which seems a little surprising with both of them being athletes.

RIP you two.

I believe it was normal to have a smoke back then, especially for Lafleur.

Smoking was the sexy thing to do and the critical info against it really wouldn't be overwhelmingly against it until the 90s, when the likes of Jeffery Wigand(at considerable personal cost, time, effort) came forward. Mike Moore, the Mississippi attorney general, filed suit against 13 tobacco companies 1994.

 

[esquared]

I just wouldn't expect hockey to have smokers.
Now baseball? That's another subject. Players and coaches smoked in the dugout up until 25 years ago.

baseball smoking in the dugout - Google Suche

 

[Torn Mind]

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/guy-lafleur-obituary-1.5766441

Lafleur transcended the sport despite his known habit of smoking cigarettes. Former coach Scotty Bowman said he would even smoke between periods.

"He'd smoke in the [hotel] room, but always in the bathroom," said former Quebec Nordiques teammate Joe Sakic. "I told him he didn't have to do that. I mean, I was in awe of him."

Adrian Dater: When smoking was the NHL's bad habit

Keenan, no saint but never a smoker, was shocked. "I had just come from Philadelphia, where there really weren't a lot of guys who smoked," he says. "But I walk

www.si.com

Keenan, no saint but never a smoker, was shocked.

"I had just come from Philadelphia, where there really weren't a lot of guys who smoked," he says. "But I walk in and see those ashtrays everywhere, and the first thing I told the guys was: 'OK, no more smoking in the dressing room. If you gotta smoke, do it out in the hallway.' So I'm coaching my first exhibition game and I go into the dressing room after the first period to talk, and there's no one in there. I'm wondering what in hell is going on, and take a walk out to the other side of the hallway and the whole team is out there, smoking cigarettes."

Mike Bossy, the Hall of Fame sniper who helped the New York Islanders win four straight Stanley Cups, smoked while answering postgame questions from reporters, as E.M. Swift's Sports Illustrated story from May 1983 documents.

 

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^^^
Amazing. I never knew.

 

[sandorski]

This was the era of Hockey I grew up with. Both Lafleur and Bossy were notable enough to remain in my memory, along with others, but often some commentator will mention a name from the time that I don't recall.

Over the years I have heard about the habits of past NHL Players. Smoking, drinking, and not Exercising was just normal at one time. Since almost everyone was treating themselves in a similar way it didn't matter much since it was a relatively level playing field. Still seems weird though. Guys like Gretzky probably did so well partly because they were on the leading edge of taking Health into consideration. Today's NHL Players certainly are Contractually obligated to certain Health considerations, although many have developed the habit of Exercise, healthy eating, no Smoking, etc on their own. I'm not sure Lafleur in his prime would make it in today's NHL, but in his time he was one of the best.

One of the reasons I remember Lafleur so well is his first name, Guy. I first read it as Gigh, so when I was corrected to say Ghee it left a permanent mark on my mind. It was an early French lesson and one of the reasons I recall one of the Defencemen on his team, Guy Lapointe, who was a notable player on his own, but Lafleur was certainly a tier higher.

tldr: RIP Lafleur, thanks for the memories.

 

[Torn Mind]

^^^
Amazing. I never knew.

NHL can’t snuff out tobacco use among players

Cigarette smoking was a serious vice among players in Steve Larmer’s day, but now many players use smokeless tobacco.

www.thestar.com

Looks like many still use chewing tobaaco, including Ovechkin.

The hockey schedule is one of the most grueling one; and for many, it begins starting as a little kid. Full games every couple of days, flights, practice, etc. It's actually not much different from a musician touring(I followed social media of the singer and band one after attending a concert). Nick Clark had a Bell's Palsy breakout on JoJo's tour.

So it's not surprising "escapes" and mental health take a toll.

 

[Torn Mind]

Tribute to Guy Lafleur | Montréal Canadiens

The events leading up to the legendary Hall-of-Famer's funeral

www.nhl.com

MONTREAL -- In accordance with the wishes of the Lafleur family, the Montreal Canadiens announced on Sunday the events for the coming week leading up to Guy Lafleur's funeral.
Out of respect for the public, which has supported Guy over the years, the Lafleur family has agreed to share their grief with the community. And in keeping with the family's wishes, all activities will reflect the image of the late hockey legend: they will be humble and accessible.
At tonight's game at the Bell Centre, all Canadiens players will don the famous No. 10 as a ceremonial patch on their jerseys. To honor Lafleur's legacy, the team will present a special pregame ceremony in memory of the iconic player and man he was.
Lafleur will lie in state at the Bell Centre on Sunday, May 1, from noon to 8:00 p.m. and Monday, May 2, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Fans wishing to pay a final tribute to Lafleur are invited to visit the Bell Centre, using its main entrance at 1909 avenue des Canadiens-de-Montreal.
The national funeral will be held on Tuesday, May 3 at 11:00 a.m. at Mary Queen of the World Cathedral, located on Rene-Levesque Blvd., corner Mansfield. At the family's request, the events will be organized by the Canadiens, with the collaboration of the Protocole du Gouvernement du Quebec.
Members of the public wishing to express their condolences can visit the Canadiens' website.
Fans wishing to honor Lafleur's memory by contributing to the Guy Lafleur Fund for Cancer Research can make a donation in his name to the Fondation du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM).
The Lafleur family thanks the media and the public for continuing to respect their privacy during this difficult time.
Overview of the events:
Sunday, May 1, from noon to 8:00 p.m. and Monday, May 2, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Mr. Lafleur will lie in state at the Bell Centre (main entrance, 1909 avenue des Canadiens-de-Montreal)
Tuesday, May 3 at 11:00 a.m.
Funeral (Mary Queen of the World Cathedral, Rene-Levesque Blvd., corner Mansfield)

 

[Torn Mind]

Heh, it's 4-3, Montreal trailing in the 3rd period.