The hockey icon, who died of lung cancer on April 22 at the age of 70, will lie in state for one more day before his funeral on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Mary Queen of the World Cathedral on René-Lévesque Blvd. at Mansfield St.
Fans from far and wide began arriving hours before the doors opened at noon to pay tribute to the “démon blond,” whose NHL career included five Stanley Cup championships between 1973 and 1979.
Michel Labrosse, 76, was part of a group from Lafleur’s hometown of Thurso.
He recalled Lafleur went back every year to the paper mill town about 150 kilometres west of Montreal, where a street and arena are named after him.
“He was a nice person, very close to his fans and patient with kids,” said Labrosse, who worked with Lafleur’s father, a welder.
