Guy Lafleur, 70

Guy Lafleur has died at 70. He won five Stanley Cups with the Canadiens including four consecutive cups between 1976 and 1979. TVA looks back at ten notable moments in the Blond Demon’s career. Although the news only broke mid Friday morning, La Presse already has a selection of reactions from social media.

CultMTL mentions that Quebec has offered the family a state funeral but no plans have been announced yet. La Presse is possibly more accurate in describing the idea as a national funeral, as was held for Maurice Richard and Jean Béliveau.

La Presse’s Alexandre Pratt praises Lafleur for his regular‑guy persona – among other things, he smoked cigarettes between periods. Yes, and he died of lung cancer, too.

Update: There’s all the reaction articles you’d expect: Radio‑Canada, CBC, CTV, the Journal on Geoff Molson.

Two clips: a glimpse of the 1978 Canadiens winning in overtime, and Lafleur returns to the Forum in 1989 with the Rangers, one of the rare times you’ll see a crowd wildly cheer a goal by the opposing team.

Here’s the official page on state funerals and other public funerals, and what they involve.