Highway 50 renamed in honor of Guy Lafleur

MONTREAL - The Government of Quebec announced Thursday morning that the province's Highway 50 is being renamed Autoroute Guy-Lafleur in honor of the Canadiens legend.

A ceremony was held in Lafleur's hometown of Thurso, QC, where the announcement for the highway that ties the Outaouais region to the rest of the province was made official.

Lafleur's mother Pierrette, sisters Suzanne, Gisèle, Lise and Lucie, wife Lise, and two sons Martin and Mark were in attendance for the occasion, among others.

An introductory speech from the Mayor of Thurso, Benoit Lauzon, set the stage for Quebec's Premier, François Legault, who unveiled the news. The announcement was received with a warm applause and chants of "Guy! Guy! Guy!"

Remembered as a man of the people, who was larger than life and a proud ambassador of his hometown, Le Démon Blond brought an abundance of pride and joy to the citizens of Thurso throughout his illustrious career.

Mathieu Lacombe, Member of Papineau, Minister of Culture and Communications and Minister responsible for the Outaouais region, also addressed those in attendance, confirming that honoring the legend who left us after a long battle with cancer on April 22, 2022, was only a matter of time.

As determined by the province's rules of toponymy, following an individual's death, a one-year wait period must be respected before any announcements are made to honor that person.

ABOUT GUY LAFLEUR'S CAREER

Drafted first-overall by the Canadiens in 1971, "The Flower," as he was known to his teammates, totaled 518 goals as a Hab - second to Maurice Richard for the most in franchise history. His 728 assists and 1,246 points in 14 seasons remain a Canadiens record to this day.

Along with his five Stanley Cups (1973, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979), Lafleur's trophy case was stocked with Art Ross Trophies, Hart Trophies and the Conn Smythe Trophy, among others. On February 16, 1985, Lafleur's No. 10 was sent to the rafters at the Old Forum, and in 1988, the legend of the game was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Named a Montreal Canadiens Ambassador after he hung up his skates for good, Lafleur was a regular presence at team events, both around games and in the community, for parts of four decades following his retirement. He leaves behind an incredible legacy that will be remembered for generations, and his statue outside the Bell Centre serves as a testament to the enduring impact he made on a team, a province, and an entire sport.

Cover photo credit: Ville de Thurso