Going back to the late ‘50’s, the No. 5 brings back two very special memories to Canadiens’ fans of that era : the consecutive Stanley Cups, between 1956 and 1960, and Bernard Geoffrion.

Nicknamed “Boom Boom” because of the powerful slapshot he developed at a very young age, Geoffrion makes a noticeable entrance with the Canadiens, the team he had always dreamt of playing for. Called up for a three-game tryout, he scores in his first NHL contest, on December 16, 1950, against Chuck Rayner of the New York Rangers.

In 1951-52, Geoffrion secures a regular job with the Canadiens, leads the team with 30 goals and wins the Calder Trophy, awarded to the league’s most outstanding rookie. Three seasons later, he earns the Art Ross Trophy with 38 goals, a league-high, and 75 points.

In 1960-61, the charismatic right winger wins another scoring title and becomes only the second player in NHL history, after his idol Maurice Richard, to reach the 50-goal plateau in a season. He will also earn a berth on the NHL First All-Star Team.
Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972, Geoffrion makes his return with the Canadiens’ organization in 1979, as head coach. But health problems will force him to tender his resignation after only 30 games.

On the morning of March 11, 2006, Bernard Geoffrion passes away from stomach cancer, only a few hours before the moment he had been waiting for so long : the raising of his No. 5 jersey to the rafters of the Bell Centre. That night will be remembered as one of the most emotional moments ever at the Bell Centre, if not Montreal hockey history.