Perfect symmetry. Two of the greatest hockey players of all time. Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers (left) and Guy Lafleur of the Montreal Canadiens (right) warming up for Team Canada who were appearing in the Canada Cup of 1981. The ‘Great One’ and ‘Le Démon Blonde’ were special and memorable players, beloved by many.
In the image, Wayne is just 20 years-old and Guy, ten years older (and a heavy smoker). Wayne ratchets it up as they warm up, cycling round the net whilst ‘The Flower’ just cruises behind him, looking like he could take a hop and a couple of strides and blow the younger man away any time he chose with that blazing speed Guy possessed.
Two wonderful, elite players, Wayne was the heaviest of scorers in NHL history and was generally a few moves ahead of everyone else on the ice whilst ‘seeing’ the ice like no other. Guy Lafleur was by many people’s conception the best player of the 1970s. He had inimitable style, panache and devastating speed. Always and forever my hockey hero.
THE TEARS OF A CLOWN 