Born February 16, 1931, in Montreal, Quebec, was Hockey Hall of Fame Bernie Geoffrion. This legend was a two-time NHL All-Star, won the Art Ross Award twice, a Calder Memorial, and a Hart Trophy, all while helping the teams he played on win six Stanley Cup Trophies. Geoffrion skated on the Montreal Canadiens and later the New York Rangers during his sixteen seasons in the League.
Sports History
Bernie Geoffrion Hockey Hall of Fame RWBernie Geoffrion Montreal Hockey Legend
Born in Montreal, Geoffrion embodied the passion of the Canadiens fanbase. His booming shot, honed on frozen ponds, earned him his nickname and struck fear into opposing goaltenders. He quickly formed a potent line with Maurice Richard and Jean Béliveau, "The Punch Line," terrorizing defenses and leading the Canadiens to two Stanley Cup victories in 1953 and 1956.
But Geoffrion wasn't just a goal scorer. He possessed exceptional playmaking skills, setting up teammates with pinpoint passes and contributing significantly to the team's overall offensive power. His speed and agility made him a constant threat, earning him the nickname "Le Fantôme" (The Phantom) for his ability to seemingly appear out of nowhere to score.
Beyond his individual accolades, Geoffrion was a key part of the Canadiens' golden age. He won six Stanley Cups in total, tying a record at the time, and helped establish the team's dynasty in the 1950s and early 1960s. His popularity transcended the ice, becoming a cultural icon in Montreal and inspiring generations of young hockey players.
However, Geoffrion's career wasn't without challenges. Injuries hampered him at times, and he was eventually traded to the New York Rangers, a move that saddened the Montreal faithful. He continued to play at a high level, even leading the Rangers to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1972.
He played hard in the Big Apple as well and earned the Ranger cheers, but as we look back, this skater was a Montreal Canadien through and through.
May 13 Numbers
Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. 22 - 21 May 13, 1942 - Who says pitchers can't hit? Boston Braves Pitcher, Number 22, Jim Tobin smacked 3 ball...
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May 12 Numbers
Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. 27 - 17 - 14 May 12, 1910 - Ace pitcher and future Hall of Fame player of the Philadelphia Athletics, Charles Bender thr...
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May 11 Numbers
Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. May 11, 1897 - Washington Senators catcher Charles Duke Farrell threw out 8 Baltimore runners that attempted to steal a b...
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May 10 Numbers
Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. 5 - 44 - 4 - 7 - 6 - 8 - 23 - 44 - 15 - 9 May 10, 1946 - Joe DiMaggio hit a Grand Slam to provide all of the offense for the ...
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May 9 Numbers
Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. 4 - 5 -19 May 9, 1901 - Cleveland Blue's rookie pitcher, Earl Moore threw a no-hit ballgame for a full nine innings...
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May 8 Numbers
Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. 10 - 17 - 32 - 4 - 22 May 8, 1878 - Paul Hines made the very first recorded triple play in professional baseball as a member of th...
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