Sudbury Northern Life Reporter Sabrina Byrnes
A Coniston man will forever be remembered for his love of hockey after an unveiling ceremony which took place at Centennial Park in Montreal Dec. 4.
Joe Laprairie, who was born and raised in Coniston, was a Second World War veteran and a dedicated hockey fan. In particular, a Montreal Canadiens fan.
"He was definitely a die-hard fan," said his daughter Nicole Laprairie. "He had a great love for hockey."
Nicole said his father would even frequent the Coniston Arena to catch a few games there. She said he was a great family man and quite the joker - always making them laugh.
Laprairie worked at Inco for 20 years but retired early at the age of 45 because of a heart condition. Laprairie had already experienced two heart attacks and two open heart surgeries.
On March 11, 1976 Laprairie travelled to Montreal with a group of friends to watch his favourite team play on their home ice. His first time at the Montreal Forum.
He was pretty excited, his daughter said.
Laprairie was visiting his doctor in Montreal for a consultation the day before the game. All of his prior surgeries had been done in Montreal.
"They pretty much had given him a clean bill of health," said Nicole. She said the doctors had told him that he was doing well and that his heart was stronger.
"He felt really good about that," she said, but thinks the added excitement of attending the game became too much for him.
On March 13, 1976, Laprairie made his way to the Montreal Forum, handed over his ticket, and suffered a major heart attack. He died very suddenly at the age of 52.
"It's sad that he never got to see the game," said Nicole.
Thirty-two years later, as the Canadiens celebrate their 100th anniversary, a commemorative brick in honour of Laprairie will forever be displayed at the new Centennial Park in Montreal.
Nicole's son had noticed on the Montreal Canadiens website members of the public could purchase commemorative bricks to be laid at the park.
He was the one who suggested that his mother buy one in honour of her father. Nicole thought it was a great idea. She purchased the brick in July and received a replica of it in the mail.
On Dec. 4, Nicole and her younger brother Joey traveled to Montreal to witness the unveiling and to see the game that their father never got the chance to see.
"It was a thrill for us, for my brother and I, to go and complete that dream for him," Nicole said.
She added that seeing the brick in the park with her father's name on it was a great feeling, and it's something that they can always go back to visit.
The Canadiens faced off against the New York Rangers that night and won 6-2, which Nicole thinks her father had something to do with.
"I felt his presence there," she said. Nicole believes her father was there watching the game with them.
"He was just beaming I'm sure."
Nicole said that her father would have just been beside himself to know that a brick was laid in his honour and that they were there watching the game that he couldn't.
Laprairie was also pleased with the fact that the rest of the family grew up fans of the Canadiens as well.
Nicole joked about the fact that when her father was watching the game, the family knew better not to step foot in front of that television.
"We can still see him sitting in his chair watching the Canadiens, cheering them on," she said.
"That's what we remember the most. His love for hockey and his dedication."
Nicole was only 15 years old when her father passed, so he's been gone longer than she was able to have him in her life. He had left behind his wife, Juliette, and his five children Marc, Luc, Monique, Nicole and Joey.
"It's tough but you still remember. You never forget, you never forget," she said.
Lapraire who would  have celebrated his 85th birthday on Dec. 20, will have his memory live on at the Centennial Park in Montreal, along with his passion for hockey.
