Geoffrions gala night a bittersweet affair NHLcom History Welcome PROFILE ACCOUNT SIGN OUT USERNAME or EMAILPASSWORDFORGOT YOUR USERNAME OR PASSWORDSIGN IN REGISTER SCORES LEAGUE SCORES NHL GAMECENTER LIVE SCHEDULE TODAY BY WEEK BY MONTH BY SEASON STANDINGS DIVISION CONFERENCE LEAGUE VS EAST VS WEST 2009 PRESEASON STATS LEAGUE LEADERS INDIVIDUALS TEAMS GAMEBYGAME CAREER SHOOTOUTS 2009 PRESEASON TEAMS Chicago Blackhawks Columbus Blue Jackets Detroit Red Wings Nashville Predators St Louis Blues Calgary Flames Colorado Avalanche Edmonton Oilers Minnesota Wild Vancouver Canucks Anaheim Ducks Dallas Stars Los Angeles Kings Phoenix Coyotes San Jose Sharks New Jersey Devils New York Islanders New York Rangers Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins Boston Bruins Buffalo Sabres Montreal Canadiens Ottawa Senators Toronto Maple Leafs Atlanta Thrashers Carolina Hurricanes Florida Panthers Tampa Bay Lightning Washington Capitals PLAYERS SEARCH PLAYERS ROOKIES DRAFT HISTORY NEWS HEADLINES FEATURES NHL WINTER CLASSIC 2010 WINTER OLYMPICS NHL ENTRY DRAFT NHL AWARDS STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS NHL ALLSTAR GAME HOCKEYS FINEST ALL NEWS STORIES NOUVELLES EN FRANAIS FANTASY PLAY FANTASY HOCKEY 09 VIDEO LIVE GAME VIDEO NHL NETWORK PHOTOS FANS NHL FANS NHL ON FACEBOOK NHL ON TWITTER NHL ON YOUTUBE NHL TOOLBARS SATURDAYNHLPICKS NHL TWITTER LISTS NHL TWEETMIXX MOBILE TICKETS NHL TICKETS BUY AND SELL NHL TICKETS SHOP SHOPNHLCOM AUCTIONS JERSEYS MEN WOMEN KIDS NYC NHL STORE HEADLINES DIVISION NOTES OLYMPICS FANTASY ALL FEATURES Geoffrions gala night a bittersweet affairMonday 10022006 728 PM History By NHLcom Staff Montreal Canadiens legend Bernie Geoffrion passed away hours before his number was to be formally retired at the Bell CentreBernard Geoffrion was a man of his word Marlene Morenzs first date with him was a night at the fights a boxing card presented at The Forum Looking up towards the rafters the young right wing already known as Boom Boom for his thundering slap shot made the girl who would agree to become his wife a promise His number would one day hang alongside that of her father the legendary Stratford Streak Howie MorenzOn Saturday March 11th 2006 exactly 69 years after Morenz lay in state at center ice at the Forum Geoffrions promise was fulfilled His family was there wife children and grandchildren So were teammates from his glory years with the Montreal Canadiens and 21000 fans intent on celebrating the career of one a hockey iconThe only person missing was The Boomer himself who succumbed to the ravages of stomach cancer in the early morning just hours before what was scheduled to be the biggest day of his lifeEverything about Geoffrion was big his shot his voi...