Guy honored at Quebec's National Assembly; also, Nick Cousins shows his appreciation

Last Wednesday, Guy was honored by Quebec's National Assembly with a rousing round of applause.  Marquette Member of National Assembly Enrico Ciccone -- also a Habs alumnus -- invited Guy to the Assembly to receive the honor.  

Said Ciccone, 

"Guy has not only had an exemplary professional career, but he is also an exceptional guy who is appreciated by everyone. He was the idol for many young people in Quebec because of his talent and determination. I am very proud that he accepted my invitation to come to the National Assembly so that we can highlight his contribution to Quebec society." (link)

(image source:  Twitter/@EnricoCiccone)

* * *

It was a no-brainer for current Habs player Nick Cousins -- who, like Guy, wears number 21 -- when it came time to decide which past Habs captain to play tribute to at the Captains Reunion on December 3.

"It was cool to see him the other night, going to the Hall of Fame. He played here for [13] years. He was a great player. He won three Selke Trophies," said Cousins.  "He's a legend in Montreal Canadiens history."  (link)

(image source:  canadiens.nhl.com)

The Habs honor Guy

This most eventful week for me, as a Carbo fan, has resulted in one of the most hilarious photos of Guy I have ever seen.

(image source:  Twitter/@Dave_Stubbs)

Per NHL.com's Dave Stubbs on Twitter:  "I haven't fought in 30 years and I'm stuck in the tie-down strap!" Carbo laughed.

The Montreal Canadiens honored Guy before last night's game, adding his portrait to the Bell Centre's Ring of Honor.  The entire pregame ceremony is available on the Habs' official website here.  Additionally, Guy was mic'd up for the ceremony and video of that is also available here.  Unfortunately, my Ottawa Senators rained on Carbo's parade, beating the Canadiens 2-1.

This has been an incredible week.  Congratulations again, Guy.  It is so very well deserved, and thank you for continuing to be such an inspiration to me.  You are my hero.

Finally, I want to give a special shout-out to my friend Kit for being my Twitter eyes and ears this week and tweeting me all things Carbo.  Thank you so much!

Another profile of Guy ahead of the HHOF induction

This time, by the Habs' official website.

Guy Carbonneau: a song for the unsung heroes

Enjoy!

Carbo does breakfast

Guy has teamed up with Holiday Inn Express to promote the hotel chain's breakfasts.  Going head to head with longtime rival Doug Gilmour and refereed by Mike Johnson, the challenge for Guy was to create the best breakfast using items from Holiday Inn's menu.  And as fate would have it, he won!  

The promo video is a blast and you can watch it here.

In addition, Guy also appeared on Breakfast Television in Montreal this week to talk about the challenge as well as the Habs, who have since been eliminated from playoff contention.

All in all, good fun!

The bird

Let me start by saying that I really struggled with whether to post this photo.  It is not one of Guy's greatest moments, for sure, but it is part of his history.

After nearly 25 years, the infamous Carbo "finger photo" has once again seen the light of day.  I found it a few weeks ago in a Google search and then subsequently found it on Twitter.  The photo was taken on May 2, 1994, three days after the Habs were eliminated from the playoffs by the Boston Bruins in seven games.  

It appeared on the front page of Le Journal de Montreal on the following morning, May 3.  It is said that the photo is one of the main reasons why Guy was traded from the Canadiens to St. Louis three months later.  The player to the right of Guy in the photo is Vincent Damphousse.

(image source:  Twitter/@photoshistos)

See also my previous blog post on the subject:  Guy et le doigt d'honneur*.

A nice little article about Carbo; plus, some new items hit the auction block

Last week, the Montreal Gazette published an article by Stu Cowan, about Guy being the last Canadiens captain -- and indeed, the last captain of a Canadian team -- to hoist the Stanley Cup.  Carbo had this to say about the pressure to win in Montreal versus that of later on in his career with Dallas:

Carbonneau doesn’t buy the pressure of playing in Montreal as an excuse for the Canadiens’ lack of success in recent years, saying there was also a lot of pressure to win in Dallas.

“Was it easier at the start? Yeah,” Carbonneau said about playing for the Stars. “But once we got going and (GM Bob Gainey) built a franchise that could win, the pressure to perform was there. Obviously, you could hide a little bit there, but you can do that here, too. I tell people: ‘You think that (Sharks stars) Brent Burns and Joe Thornton grow their beards not to be recognized in San Jose?’ I mean, come on.

“When things are good and you’re scoring lots and you’re getting points and the team is winning, everybody wants to be seen,” Carbonneau added about the players. “Everybody wants to go in the bars and be happy, go to the restaurants and everybody’s laughing. But all of a sudden when it’s not going well, now they want to hide? Or they’re bitching because they can’t hide? It doesn’t work.” 

 You can read the full article here.

* * *

Some interesting memorabilia items have appeared on the auction block recently.  Classic Auctions has Guy's goal puck plaque from his first NHL hat trick, here.  The current bid is $393.00 USD and the auction closes at 9:00 PM EDT on Tuesday, June 19.

Also, the goal puck plaque from Guy's first ever NHL goal has appeared on eBay, here.  At $2500 USD it's a bit too rich for my blood but it's a marvelous item.  Oh, if only I could win the lottery...  

On signatures

You can't tell me that Guy doesn't have one of the most beautiful signatures in hockey.  I have many pieces of autographed Carbo memorabilia and I have long joked that if the Pawn Stars ever needed an expert to authenticate a Carbonneau signature, I'm their girl.  I can tell a real one from a fake a mile away.  Guy has signed his name thousands of times over the course of his career and it's interesting to see how his autograph has evolved over the years, so I thought I'd write a post on this interesting subject.  

From my collection, this is a photo of a very young Guy with the Nova Scotia Voyageurs (AHL), Montreal's farm team which Guy played for from 1980-82.  At this time Guy was still signing his full name but you can see the pattern of his signature starting to develop.  The exaggerated "C" in Carbonneau for example.  There is no "21" next to his name like you will see in later signatures, but this is to be expected as Guy wore the number 10 with Nova Scotia.

(photo source:  eBay)

These autographs were signed in 1984 and 1985 respectively.  Guy still signs with his first initial but here are the beginnings of what I think is the most unique part of his autograph:  the "CH" formed in the center, for Montreal Canadiens.  Even after being traded, Guy included this as part of his signature and continues to sign like this to this day, and I think it shows his pride at being a member of such a storied franchise.

And Guy's signature at current.  I used this particular example as the template for my tattoo:

There you have it!  And for what it's worth, if I had the chance to ask Guy any question I wanted I'd ask him what the strangest/most bizarre thing is that he's ever been asked to sign.  

Guy visits his former bench boss

Something that grabbed my attention while perusing Twitter recently:  over the holidays, Guy visited  his former coach Jacques Demers in the hospital.

(Image source:  Le Journal de Montreal)

Demers, who suffered a stroke in April 2016, is paralyzed on the right side of his body and can only manage to speak a few words.  He is currently in a rehabilitation facility offering long-term care.  He was delighted by Guy's visit, especially when Guy told him that there will be a meeting of the members of the 1993 Stanley Cup team this coming April to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Cup win.

(excerpted from the French article here.)    

Guy's Reunion Night; and an amazing video hits YouTube

As part of the team's 25th anniversary celebrations, the Dallas Stars have been honoring alumni players before games.  Last night was Guy's turn to be honored and he took part in the ceremonial puck drop.  Here are a few photos:

(Image source:  Twitter/@lclsportsluvver)

You may also watch video of Guy dropping the puck here.

Edited to add 12/7/17:  Scott Burnside did a great Q&A with Carbo on DallasStars.com ahead of Guy being honored by the Stars.  You can read it here.

* * *

It has also recently come to my attention that Episode 1, "Mere Players" of the Ken Dryden television series Home Game (which aired on CBC Television in 1990) has been posted to YouTube.  I have this show on VHS and it has some of the most amazing Carbo/Montreal Canadiens footage I've ever seen.  I'll just borrow what my friend Diane Lau said about this video years ago:  "This awesome video covers the pregame activities as well as a match between the Canadiens and the Oilers at the Forum in 1988. Carbonneau and his teammates prepare for battle, Ken analyzes the pregame Ritual, and there is a fantastic dissection of Guy scoring on Grant Fuhr. You will watch it over and over."

And here it is!

'Til next time!

Rubbing elbows with world leaders

This week Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang for trade talks, which included a visit to the Bell Centre on Friday to check out Trudeau's favorite hockey team.

The two leaders met with Guy as well as fellow Habs alumni Yvan Cournoyer, Francis Bouillon, Mathieu Dandenault, Patrice Brisebois, and Gaston Gingras.  Also, they took a tour of the team's dressing room.  Following the tour, Trudeau and Li watched Montreal-area children of Chinese descent play a game on the Bell Centre ice.  (link)

(image source:  Twitter/CanadiensMTL)

(image source:  Twitter/JustinTrudeau)

Guy on Kirk Muller's re-hiring by the Habs

Interviewed by the Montreal Gazette, Guy recently had some kind words about Kirk Muller, who has just been re-hired by the Montreal Canadiens as an assistant coach.  Muller was originally hired as an assistant coach by Carbo when he took over as head coach of the Habs in 2006.

This video was shot at a Pro-Am tournament in Brossard, QC to support Alzheimer's research.

False report; and a radio interview

Last week the Habs blogosphere was abuzz over a reported meeting between Carbo and Habs management...with the Canadiens' fortunes in freefall, would he return as a coach?  The meeting was not as it seemed, though; there were a hundred other persons there too as part of a marketing event with Evenko.  (link)

As well, Guy was also interviewed last week on TSN Radio recently for the Leafs Lunch program.  You can listen to that interview here.  

Some Carbo news that I missed, and another new interview

Going way back to October!  Former Habs captain Guy passed the iconic torch to current captain Max Pacioretty during the Canadiens' home opener.

(image credit: PC)

Guy said of Pacioretty:  "I wanted him to make the most of the experience (as captain) and to have the chance I had to lift the Stanley Cup."  (link)

* * *

From an older Montreal Gazette article about the suicide of former Canadiens tough guy Todd Ewen, Guy on fighting in the NHL:

“Guys like that, it’s not the first one,” former Canadiens captain and coach Guy Carbonneau said about Ewen, who was his teammate on Montreal’s 1993 Stanley Cup team. “Now, four or five … even more than that … so it’s starting to be a big problem. Hopefully we can keep looking into it — and I know some people are looking into it — but I think we need to really look deeper and if those people don’t want to come out, we have to go and find them.”

Carbonneau said that fighting is already “weeding itself out” of the NHL and thinks it’s time to put in rules similar to in European hockey, where a player who gets in a fight is automatically thrown out of the game. A suspension would come after a certain numbers of fights — say five or 10.

“I think you’ll see less and less fighting in the NHL (in the future),” Carbonneau said. “I don’t think we’ll see the kind of athletes who were just sitting on the bench and were just there to fight. We don’t see that anymore. The game is too fast, teams can’t afford to have a guy like that on the bench, playing only two or three minutes of hockey.

“In 10 years, we’ll probably talk about: ‘It’s funny, I haven’t seen a fight in a year or two years.'” Carbonneau added. “I think it’s just going to go away by itself. But it’s always been a tough decision because the feelings are mixed among the organazizations (sic) and the people that make those decisions. So we just have to give it time a little bit.”

Carbonneau — like just about every hockey player — has great respect for the guys like Ewen, who stood up for their teammates.

“Guys like him, Chris Nilan and John Kordic, I think they understood the role they had and they knew it was a tough job, but they never backed down and they always had our back,” Carbonneau said. “They were well respected around the room, that’s for sure.”  (link)

* * *

On December 31, Guy played as part of the Canadiens alumni roster at the 2016 Winter Classic Alumni Game in Foxboro, MA.  The Bruins alumni took the game 5-4 in a shootout (and it must have been something for the retired players to play in the relatively new shootout!), but Guy led his team onto the ice in his classic captain's sweater.

(image credit:  The Boston Globe)

* * *

Back in October, Rogers Hometown Hockey brought their show to Gatineau, QC and Guy was part of the festivities, chatting with fans and signing autographs.  Here he is being interviewed by Ron MacLean.

(image credit:  Twitter/hometownhockey_)

* * *

Switching back to current news, Guy has given an interview to the Montreal Gazette about the Canadiens' current slump.  Excerpted from the French, Guy says that he expected a slowdown in the absence of Carey Price, but never to this point, and that he has never witnessed such a collapse.  He believes that it will be very difficult for the Habs to clinch a playoff spot, and by the time the injured Carey Price returns to the roster, it will be too late.  The full article is here.

Carbo on the Habs' recent woes; and his Stanley Cup skates hit the auction block

The wheels have fallen off the Montreal Canadiens' season, and Guy has some things to say about it, having been fired in 2009 when the Habs' fortunes went downward.  From the Montreal Gazette, when asked if he has any advice for head coach Michel Therrien:

“It doesn’t matter what kind of advice somebody would give him. You’re in this by yourself. You’re surrounded by people that you trust. His assistant coaches and his GM and the owners, the players — and that’s pretty much the bubble that he lives in right now. He’s got people around him, a girlfriend and the kids that love him and always support him.”

And Guy's thoughts on coaching:

“It’s like raising a family,” Carbonneau said. “Before, coaches were paid to coach. Now, they’re paid to babysit, to be a father, a mother, a coach, a psychiatrist, a psychologist. They have to deal with the media, they have to deal with the fans … it’s not an easy thing.”

The full interview can be read here.

Finally, switching gears:  Classic Auctions' Winter 2016 auction is now online, with a fantastic pair of Guy's skates -- the ones he wore when he hoisted the Stanley Cup with Montreal on June 9, 1993.  These skates have tons of wear and have been photomatched.  The current bid is $220, and you can view them (and bid) here.

Guy on Montreal's playoff chances

The Montreal Canadiens are currently in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against Tampa Bay.  Guy was asked by Sportsnet about his former team's chances, and here's what he had to say:

I always say in the playoffs it’s goaltending and defence that wins. There’s nobody left in the playoffs as good as Carey [Price], but you never know. Every time you win a series, it just gets harder. I expect this to be a really good series. Tampa is a team that can score a lot of goals. Not as good defensively as the Canadiens, though. [Ben] Bishop just won his first series in the NHL on Wednesday.

It’s hard to say who Carey reminds me of. Every goalie has their own little things. Patrick [Roy] came in not as well announced as Carey. There was no question Carey was going to be a star, and he proved at the Olympics he was part of the elite. Now he’s just carried that on to this season. From Day 1, you saw he had something.

Montreal is not a team that scores a lot of goals—they’ve been that way all year. They rely on defence and goaltending, and that’s not going to change. No one guy is going to score eight or nine in a series. Especially against a quick team like Tampa with so many skilled players who like to carry the puck and make plays, they’ll have to rely on defence. Their concentration will have to be strong, and Carey will have to be really good.

I’m kinda torn. I want the Canadiens to win but my son-in-law, Brenden Morrow, plays for Tampa. I’m going to Montreal. The only game I’ll miss live is [Game 1]. I’ll be here in Toronto, but after that I’ll be watching live. Tampa has done well against the Canadiens all year, so they’re definitely approaching this series with a lot of confidence, but playoffs is a whole different season.

(source)

Hope all of you are enjoying the playoffs!

Belated roundup

Guy was present at the Hockey Day in Canada celebrations last week in Halifax.  Here are a few photos.

Hugging ecstatic fan Kim Richard of Dartmouth.  (source)

Signing a fan's jersey.  (source:  Twitter/VulgarViking)

At the Q&A for Hockey Day in Canada, Carbo also revealed that his first words learned in English, as a Nova Scotia Voyageur newly arrived in Halifax, were "I'll have what he's having."  Clearly a man with his priorities in order!

Here is an audio interview Guy did a few weeks ago with a radio station in Kingston, Ontario, prior to his appearance at Kingston's FebFest.  Additionally, here is Guy speaking with Sportsnet about the Montreal Canadiens' current fortunes.

Enjoy!

Photo flashback; also, another case for Guy in the Hall

Montreal Gazette photographer John Mahoney recently Instagrammed this vintage photo of Carbo and Joe Sakic:

(source:  Instagram/johnmahoney58)

Also, an endorsement for Guy in the Hockey Hall of Fame has come from the unlikeliest of sources, the Los Angeles Times.  On a story about players who should be in the halls of fame for their respective sports, Carbo tops the list for hockey:

Guy Carbonneau: A three-time winner of the Selke Award as the NHL's best defensive forward, but perhaps Hall of Fame member Brett Hull said it best about Carbonneau in an interview with Times columnist Helene Elliott, herself a hockey Hall of Fame member: "I think at some point they've got to take a look at a Guy Carbonneau and look at his body of work without the numbers and look at what he did as a defensive centerman and a leader and a Stanley Cup winner and numerous Selke awards. At some point, they've got to start putting some players like Guy Carbonneau into the Hall of Fame. So what, they don't have 500 goals. But without them, you don't win championships."

(source)

Also, blog reader Tyler has solved the mystery of the strange video featured in the previous post:  It's a joking reference to the Carbonneau Commission, a corruption trial in Montreal.  Merci, Tyler!

Happy New Year!

Carbo on Jean Beliveau; also, a strange video and a banana bread recipe

Habs icon Jean Beliveau passed away this week at the age of 83.  Guy did an interview with TSN Radio in which he talks about Beliveau's influence on his career.  You can find it here.

Here is a strange little video from RDS.  It's in French so I can't make heads or tails of what's going on, but Guy is dressed as a judge so it's certainly odd.  (If any of my Francophone readers would like to clue me in on what the video is about, it would be much appreciated.)  

And finally, here is something I meant to post long ago and just recently found again.  The recipe for Guy's favorite banana bread (from his wife Line) has surfaced on the Internet.  Here it is!

That's all for now -- but as one final note that has nothing to do with Carbo, this Sens fan would like to congratulate Daniel Alfredsson on a spectacular career and also to wish him a very happy retirement.  Thank you for your years of hockey and for your service to our community.  You're the best!

And we're back!

The blog had a bit of a technical glitch for about a month with the domain's renewal, but now we're back!  Thank you, readers, for your patience.

I come bearing a funny, dating from 1986:

In case you can't read Guy's comments, I've replicated them below:

"The team photographer at the time, Bob Fisher, was always ahead of his time, and he accompanied the team on a road trip to Hartford.  Back then, we were very comfortable with photographers.  Chris Nilan and I had been roommates on the road for a couple of years.  The night before games, we all had an 11:00 p.m. curfew.  That night, we got back to the hotel pretty early because, to be honest, there really isn't much to do in Hartford.  We were actually happy to be in our room.  To pass the time after the team dinner, we took a few funny pictures with Bob.  We knew they wouldn't end up anywhere...that is, until today!"

Enjoy!  :)

Photo flashback

I'd like to share with you some photos I recently found, all on Facebook.

Guy and Mario Tremblay with Le Coupe Stanley, circa 1986.

Guy and Larry Robinson, also circa 1980's.

And finally, a young Guy with his hockey team in Sept-Iles.  Can you pick out the young Carbo?  (The answer is a few lines down.)

Guy is first from the right, in the first row.

Some terrific photo finds!