11/05/24
March 11, 2006
And on his greatest day...: Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion - inventor of the slap shot and the second man ever to score 50 goals in a season, succumbs to stomach cancer on the very day his jersey is to be retired by the most revered franchise in hockey.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey to hockey at 01:19 PM - 16 comments
That is very sad. Although I have never heard of him, what i have heard of him makes me respect him greatly.
posted by buffalo will never win at 01:36 PM on March 11, 2006
.
posted by wingnut4life at 02:52 PM on March 11, 2006
What a jerk, dying on the day he was to be honored. And to steal the scoring title from a guy who was suspended for wacking another guy in the head with a two handed shiver. Some nerve.
posted by GoBirds at 03:07 PM on March 11, 2006
one of the most talented and exciting players the game of hockey and i have had the pleasure to see .may he rest in peace
posted by DOLDGY at 03:40 PM on March 11, 2006
Boom Boom was my favourite player when I was growing up in Toronto. It was great to watch him on the point when the Canadiens had a power play.I was hoping he would see his jersey retired. My codolences to his family.
posted by habs at 03:57 PM on March 11, 2006
it's a very touching ceremony. just wish i knew some french.
posted by goddam at 06:36 PM on March 11, 2006
Although I have never heard of him, what i have heard of him Huh?
posted by billsaysthis at 10:29 PM on March 11, 2006
It was a very moving ceremony, especially for his family. But did Huet have to go shut out my Rangers after that???
posted by ajaffe at 07:44 AM on March 12, 2006
Somewhere in the Great Beyond, some poor goalie is about to get beat, top shelf, by the Boomer. RIP
posted by wolfdad at 08:06 AM on March 12, 2006
I wasn't watching too closely, but most of the goals I saw him scoring during the tribute were more power-forward rush-the-net type scores. I would've liked to have seen more slap shots. Can someone who was watching more closely tell me if I just missed those?
posted by ajaffe at 10:48 AM on March 12, 2006
I think they knew the end was near (he's been sick for years), and so while this was a priority, they didn't realize how close to the end he actually was. I've been out for the last few days, and I missed this. This sucks. He seemed like a real likeable guy.
posted by chicobangs at 02:07 PM on March 12, 2006
well at least boom- boom went out in style..honoured on the day he passed away...fitting tribute to a real hockey legend..
posted by ktown at 08:33 PM on March 12, 2006
That was really sad news. Over the week it was he's coming, his condition has worsened, and then on the morning he passed away. Though, I hate to say it, the Habs should've retired his jersey long ago (or even switched around the order of the three jerseys they retired this year - Boom Boom's cancer wasn't sudden onset, was it?). Too bad he couldn't see his jersey raised to the rafters.
posted by gspm at 07:27 AM on March 13, 2006
Boom Boom's cancer wasn't sudden onset, was it? i read somewhere (can't find the link right now) that they only found the cancer the previous week during surgery.
posted by goddam at 08:53 AM on March 13, 2006
The cancer was quick - he had been ill for some years, but the stomach cancer was new. He only cancelled his appearance at the event on Friday. He was dead on Saturday. The Habs should have retired his number back when they retired most of the greats from his team (decades ago), but a 'falling out' (no idea) delayed the honour for years.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 10:22 AM on March 13, 2006
What a sad coincidence. May he rest in peace.