FOREVER THE FLOW: MONTREAL CELEBRATES THE UNFORGETTABLE MAGIC OF GUY LAFLEUR AS CITY ANNOUNCES STATUE TRIBUTE

By Camille Robichaud | Montreal Herald | May 25, 2025

 

Montreal, QC— The city that once held its breath every time Guy Lafleur flew down the right wing at the Forum will soon have a new way to celebrate its most beloved hockey son: a statue in his honor is set to be unveiled outside the Bell Centre next spring, in a project announced today by Mayor Valérie Plante and representatives from the Montreal Canadiens.

Titled “Forever the Flow,” the statue will immortalize Lafleur in full stride, golden locks trailing behind him, head up, eyes locked on the net, and that signature curve of his stick about to unleash another unforgettable slapshot.

The announcement was made this morning in a moving ceremony at Place des Canadiens, where fans, former teammates, and Lafleur’s family gathered to pay tribute.

“Guy Lafleur was more than a hockey player. He was the heartbeat of a generation,” said Mayor Plante. “His elegance, passion, and spirit embodied the very soul of Montreal. With this statue, we’re ensuring that his magic will continue to inspire future generations—on the ice and beyond.”

The statue, which will be sculpted by acclaimed artist Émilie Beaulieu, aims to capture the “motion and emotion” of Lafleur’s game. Beaulieu, who previously crafted the Maurice Richard statue that stands just meters away, described the process as both a technical and emotional challenge.

“How do you sculpt speed? How do you freeze passion?” she said. “You can’t. But what you can do is chase it. Guy Lafleur made the impossible feel effortless. That’s what I want this statue to reflect.”

Nicknamed “The Flower” and “Le Démon Blond,” Lafleur lit up the NHL during the 1970s with his unmistakable style and explosive skill. A five-time Stanley Cup champion and the first player in league history to score 50 goals and 100 points in six consecutive seasons, Lafleur remains a titan in Canadiens lore. But beyond the numbers, it was his charisma and deep connection with the fans that earned him immortality.

“No one brought people out of their seats like Guy,” said former teammate and fellow Habs legend Yvan Cournoyer. “Even at practice, even walking down the street—he had this energy, this electricity. He didn’t just play the game, he *was* the game.”

Lafleur passed away in 2022 after a courageous battle with cancer, sparking an outpouring of grief across Quebec and the hockey world. The Canadiens honored him with a season-long tribute, retiring his No. 10 jersey once more in a poignant ceremony that brought generations of fans together.

For fans like Jean-Paul Gagnon, 67, who brought his grandson to the announcement, the statue is more than bronze and granite—it’s memory made solid.

“I remember the roar when he touched the puck. You knew something was coming. My grandson didn’t get to see that, but now he’ll know what it meant,” Gagnon said.

The statue is expected to be unveiled on April 20, 2026—what would have been Lafleur’s 75th birthday.

And so, forever in flight, forever in our hearts—Guy Lafleur’s legacy will remain carved not just in stone, but in the spirit of Montreal itself.