Bob Hartley and former Atlanta Flames coach Bernie Geoffrion pose with the youth club from Hawkesbury, Ontario, Canada. 

Living Legend

Hockey Hall of Famer Bernie Geoffrion Greets Canadian Players

by John Heid

Players from the Canadian team participating in this weekend's Friendship Cup youth tournament had a special treat on Wednesday night (April 6), as Thrashers Head Coach Bob Hartley arranged for Hockey Hall of Fame member and Marietta resident Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion to greet them and their families.

Geoffrion, an Atlanta area resident since 1972, offered words of encouragement to the team and parents in French, shook hands, signed autographs and posed for pictures. Players from the team hail from the Hawkesbury, Ontario, and the surrounding region, which is on the Quebec border, adding extra excitement to the meeting.

A native of Montreal, Quebec, Geoffrion notched 822 points (393 goals, 429 assists) in 883 games over 16 seasons in the NHL from 1950-1964 with Montreal and 1966-68 with the New York Rangers. He helped the Canadiens capture six Stanley Cup Championships, including five straight from 1956-60.

During his illustrious playing career, Geoffrion captured the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP in 1960-61, the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's top scorer twice (1960-61 and 1954-55) and the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year in 1951-52. He set career highs with 50 goals and 95 points in 1960-61, and posted his second-best offensive season in the NHL with 75 points (38 goals, 37 assists) in 1954-55. He reached 20 or more goals in 12 of his 16 NHL seasons, including 30 or more on four times, and also topped 50 points nine times.

Following his retirement as a player, Geoffrion served as head coach of the Quebec Aces of the American Hockey League for five seasons from 1961-66, before returning to the NHL as a player with the Rangers. He served as head coach of the Atlanta Flames for 2½ seasons from 1972-75, and coached Montreal for the final 30 games in 1979-80 before retiring from hockey.

Geoffrion sat down with atlantathrashers.com to answer questions about his career.

atlantathrashers.com: Do any of your Stanley Cup championships stand out most in your mind?

Geoffrion: "Just to have my name of the Cup once was the biggest thrill of my life. But when we won five in-a-row, the one I enjoyed the most was that 1952 team with Dick Irvin. I grew up in Montreal, and we won the Cup in my second year in the league. That was the best. I don't think our streak will ever be beaten. The New York Islanders came close in the 1980s, but I think our record is safe."

atlantathrashers.com: What was your most memorable moment in the NHL?

Geoffrion: "The first day I walked into the rink in Montreal, and sat down next to Rocket Richard in the locker room is something I will never forget. I was 19 years old at the time, and I was sitting next to a guy I idolized since I was 7 or 8. It was a huge thrill. I had a three-game tryout, and I finished with a couple of points in those games. So all of a sudden, the general manager asks to see me to offer me a contract!"

atlantathrashers.com: Why did you decide to make Atlanta your home?

Geoffrion: "My family and I loved Atlanta from the first day we got here in 1972. We've never left. We've had been here so long, I can speak Southern! People here have always loved hockey, so we always felt at home. When I saw the crowd on opening night in 1972-73, I told [Flames GM] Cliff Fletcher we're made here. We were averaging 15,000 fans right from the beginning."

atlantathrashers.com: How hard was it becoming a head coach after such a stellar playing career?

Geoffrion: "It really wasn't that difficult. My job was to correct the players mistakes and help the team stick together. I didn't have to teach the game. By the time a player reaches the NHL, he knows the game already. By then, you can't show the kid how to play the game. But I really loved coaching. But by my last year, I was getting tired and was ready to do something else."

John Heid is the Manager of Media Relations for the Atlanta Thrashers