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Geregistreerd op: 18 Okt 2019
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 Geplaatst: 16-11-2019 07:34:10 Onderwerp: arguably the biggest surprise of the season |
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| MONTREAL -- Guy Lapointe was gardening in his front yard last week when Montreal Canadiens owner Geoff Molson pulled up to his house for an unannounced visit. Off White Vapormax Clearance . Lapointe didnt know what was in store for him. As it turned out, the former Canadiens defenceman was about to receive an unexpected honour. From Lapointes kitchen in Saint-Lazare, Que., Molson announced that the Hall-of-Famer will become the 18th player in Canadiens history to have his jersey retired by the team. The retirement ceremony will occur during the course of this coming National Hockey League season. "Its extraordinary," Lapointe said Thursday at the Canadiens Hall of Fame, located at the Bell Centre. "With the people Ill be next to -- Jean Beliveau, Henri Richard, Guy Lafleur, Larry Robinson, Serge Savard -- I just cant stop thinking about it. I was happy with just looking up at those jerseys. I never thought, in all sincerity, that my number would be retired. It never crossed my mind." On Thursday, the Canadiens organization made official the decision to retire Lapointes No. 5, the first jersey to be honoured since 2009 when Elmer Lach and Emile (Butch) Bouchard received whats considered one of the most prestigious honours in sports. Lapointe, 66, will finally be reunited with his Big Three teammates -- Savard and Robinson -- in the Bell Centre rafters. Savards No. 18 was retired in 2006, and Robinsons No. 19 joined the following year. Known as much for their staunch defending and offensive prowess, the Big Three were instrumental in Montreals six Stanley Cup victories in the 1970s. And the three defencemen were on hand at the Bell Centre on Thursday to celebrate Lapointes big day. "Im happy to see you both here," the Montreal native Lapointe told his former teammates before pointing to the rafters. "But Ill be even happier to see you up there when my jersey is going to be retired." Between 1968 and 1984, Lapointe played 16 seasons in the NHL -- 12 of them with the Canadiens before brief stints with the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins. Always a threat on the power play, Lapointe was known for his explosive speed, his inspired bouts of offence, and his rocket of a slapshot. He recorded 622 points in 894 career games, and ranks second in goals by a Canadiens defenceman with 166. Nicknamed Pointu, Lapointe had three consecutive 20-goal seasons, and still holds the Canadiens record for most goals in a year by a defenceman with 28. In his first complete season with the Habs in 1970-71, Lapointes 15 goals set a franchise record for a rookie defenceman. The record still stands today. "A lot of minutes in a lot of situations -- thats the way he was," said Robinson of Lapointe, whom he compared to Montreals P.K. Subban. "Guy could hold his own against anybody. He could play in all situations, play a lot of minutes. Thats the reason hes in the Hall of Fame. "Its very fitting to have his sweater up there. Im glad I got mine up there first -- I finally beat him at something." Lapointe was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993, two years before Robinson. He won six Stanley Cups -- all with the Canadiens -- including four consecutive championships between 1976 and 1979. "I grew up with this excellent organization," said Lapointe, who also pointed to the 1972 Summit Series in Moscow and 1976 Canada Cup -- both memorable victories for Canada -- as exceptional moments in his career. "The Canadiens helped me become a better hockey player and a better person. The team allowed me to reach goals I didnt even think were possible. "Winning was always our goal. That paid dividends throughout my career. I was a lucky person to make the team. I owe a lot to the Montreal Canadiens. Theyve been very good to me." Off the ice, Lapointe was known as a prankster, notorious for shaking hands with former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau with a palm covered in Vaseline. After Lach and Bouchard had their jerseys retired in 2009 -- the ninth and 10th such commemorative event in the five years leading up to the Canadiens centennial anniversary -- the teams organization put the process on hold. Fans clamoured for Lapointe to join the Canadiens legends in the rafters, including the defencemans daughter Stephanie, who started a petition last year to have her fathers jersey retired. "Dreams really do come true!" Stephanie Lapointe tweeted on Wednesday when the news was announced. "Never give up! I am beyond proud of my dad! Finally he is being awarded this honour!" Molson says the Canadiens organizations focus over the last five years has been rebuilding the team on the ice. On Thursday, he said the time was finally right to give Lapointe his long-awaited recompense. "Its a name that kept resurfacing when we bought the team in 2009," said Molson of the final Big Three defenceman. "We were in the process of retiring a lot of jerseys at that time. "I feel good about the organization (now). I feel good about the development of our players, the general manager, and our support staff. Were well on our way to having a winning organization year after year. The fans have had a break from the centennial celebrations. And its a nice surprise for Lapointe." Notes: Lapointe is currently the Minnesota Wilds amateur scouting co-ordinator. a Robinson flew up from San Jose, Calif., on two days notice for the event. a Howie Morenzs No. 7 was the first jersey retired by the Canadiens, in 1937. a Lapointes is the second No. 5 to be retired by the Canadiens. He joins Bernie (Boom Boom) Geoffrion, whose jersey was raised to the rafters in 2006. Wholesale Vapormax Plus . -- Phil Mickelson came to the St. Fake Vapormax Womens .S. routed Sweden 7-0 Sunday to win its fourth straight title and seventh overall under-18 world championship. Olson earned his third shutout of the tournament and the Americans allowed only four goals in six games to set an International Ice Hockey Federation under-18 record. http://www.clearancevapormax.com/cheap-vapormax-2-clearance.html . The Maple Leafs may not have had a pick until the third round, but they have made the biggest move of the second day of the Draft, dealing defenceman Carl Gunnarsson and a fourth-round pick in the draft to the St.FRANKFURT - Having advanced to the knockout stage in the Champions League, Bayern Munich is looking to successfully conclude a good week when it travels to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga on Saturday.Eintracht has lost its last three games, while Bayern is riding high. It beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 last weekend in the Bundesliga and then eased past Roma 2-0 in the Champions League to make sure of advancing and topping its group.Its closest followers, Wolfsburg and Borussia Moenchengladbach, are four points behind. Wolfsburg hosts Hamburger SV, which is showing signs of revival, while Moenchengladbach visits next-to-last Dortmund, which has lost five straight.Here are some things to know ahead of the Bundesliga weekend.___BAYERN A DISASTER?At least in one area, Bayern coach Pep Guardiola thinks his team is a disaster — in creating goals from corners. In 10 matches so far in the Bundesliga, Bayern has not scored after a corner.We are a disaster and we have to improve there, the perfectionist coach said.Guardiola insists that his team is still not at its peak.We need to play better, we can never be satisfied, that would be a big mistake. We can always play better, Guardiola said after the victory over Roma.Not good news for Frankfurt.___WOLFSBURGS RISEEver since winning the title surprisingly in 2009, Wolfsburg has been trying unsuccessfully to establish itself as a Champions League team. It may be closing in on its goal this season.One of the reasons for its good run (six consecutive victories in all competitions), is the playmaker Kevin de Bruyne. The Belgium international tops the league with seven assists, and also has one goal.I am a winner, I am here to win every match, said de Bruyne, who failed to make an impact in Chelsea. No player can play a perfect game, but I try it every time.Coach Dieter Hecking says the Belgian is no world champion in training but is always eager to play.He is the one who can make the difference in a match, Hecking acknowledged.___CHANGING ROLESWhile Dortmund is battling to escape from the relegation zone, Moennchengladbach is playing some of the best football in the league. Vapormax Womens Clearance. Moenchengladbach gave Bayern a tough test in a 0-0 draw and is the only other undefeated team.Dortmund is hoping to take some of the momentum from the Champions League into the domestic competition. With four wins in four games, Dortmund has advanced in Europe. Dortmund led against Bayern last week before a couple of errors allowed Bayern to come back for a 2-1 victory.Moenchengladbach has a young, exciting team resembling The Foals of the 1970s, who dominated the league and won five titles.Christoph Kramer, Max Kruse, Andre Hahn and Patrick Herrmann are the stars of the team and its fast-paced attacking style, along with Raffael, a Brazilian playmaker.___TOP SCORER, BOTTOM CLUBFranco di Santo is one of the four players leading the Bundesliga with six goals apiece. That is remarkable seeing that his team, Werder Bremen, has only one victory and is last in the standings.He is a leader who is good for us, teammate Felix Kroos said of the Argentine. Di Santo is also popular because of his sunny disposition and positive attitude.Its important, especially in bad times, di Santo said of his good mood despite Bremens dire situation. Di Santo has settled in in his second season and also benefits from a change of formation since new coach Viktor Skripnik started playing with two forwards.___PADERBORN SURPRISEWith 15 points from 10 matches and seventh place, promoted Paderborn is arguably the biggest surprise of the season so far.The small club has the fifth best attack with 16 goals. But coach Andre Breitenreiter remains cautious.We only have 15 points. Thats only a good basis to avoid relegation, not more, said the coach, who is credited with Paderborns success because of his flexible tactics.But defender Patrick Ziegler thinks his team has more substanceAfter 10 matches, you cant talk about beginners luck any more. We are here to stay, he said optimistically.Paderborn travels to Augsburg, another small club that manages to stay in the league with limited means. ' ' ' |
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