Hundreds of fans, hockey personalities and journalists paid their last respects to Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Bossy Thursday at a funeral service north of Montreal.
Bossy, a leader of the New York Islanders' Stanley Cup dynasty in the early 1980s, died April 14 of lung cancer at age 65.
Quebec Premier François Legault attended the ceremony at a funeral complex in Ste-Thérèse, Que., and told reporters he had developed a friendship with Bossy over the years.
Legault said Bossy, who helped the Islanders win the Cup four straight years from 1980-83, was a fighter and wanted to beat the disease.
He says he loved to watch Bossy's hockey analysis on television for TVA Sports.
On display were a floral arrangement in the form of a 22 — Bossy's sweater number — and his Islanders jersey signed by several former NHL stars, including Maurice Richard, Guy Lafleur, Jean Béliveau and Gordie Howe.
Bossy earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1982. He scored the Cup-winning goal in 1982 and '83 — one of just two players to do so in back-to-back seasons.
