A nationalist mood prevailed in Montreal on Monday evening during the publication of the biography 50 days in the life of Mike Bossy while the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste admits it has corrected a past mistake by posthumously awarding the late hockey player the Maurice Richard Prize.
• Also read: The biography that Tanya Bossy has been waiting for for a long time
According to Marie-Anne Alepin, president of Montreal’s Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society (SSJB), “this surrender should have happened a long time ago.”
As described in a book by journalist Mikaël Lalancette in collaboration with Tanya Bossy, one of Mike’s daughters, the New York Islanders player’s candidacy for this award was recommended in 1982. To avoid a controversy surrounding Bossy’s English origins, the decision was made not to award the prize, although founder Pierre Harvey was also among the candidates in the running.
“While researching the book, we spoke to family members, including my mother, to understand that my father was deeply sad, disappointed and affected,” Tanya Bossy said of this episode. We realized it was affecting my father.
“Of course we would have liked to have done it when my father was there, but we can’t change the past,” she added. Combining this award ceremony with the book launch is really perfect. I’m sure my dad is there somewhere.”
In the presence of the Prime Minister
Among the guests present at the opening, Quebec Premier François Legault spoke with admiration of Mike Bossy.
“I am pleased that he has a biography in French and that he has received the Maurice Richard Prize from the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste,” noted Mr. Legault. Like many Quebecers, I loved Mike Bossy.”
Presentation of the book “50 days in the life of Mike Bossy” by Mikaël Lalancette on Monday, October 16, 2023, in Montreal. In this photo: Pierre Karl Péladeau and Gilles Duceppe. Photo agency QMI, JOEL LEMAY Photo agency QMI, JOEL LEMAY
“It was time,” said former politician Gilles Duceppe, who confirmed that during his lifetime he had often asked the SSJB to honor Mike Bossy. It’s pretty extraordinary. This guy didn’t speak French, he came with Laval [dans le hockey junior], he learned French and became a commentator. There is no better example.”
“When I arrived in Quebec I was 6 years old,” remembers Tanya Bossy. My father could very well have sent my sister and me to an English-speaking school, but he wanted us to go to a French-speaking primary and secondary school. In fact, I always spoke to my father in French.”
When she talks about the book launch, she is now relieved and says she is no longer afraid that her father will be forgotten.
“This fear that I had is pointless because the book is there,” she said.
A foreword by Gretzky
By signing the foreword, legendary ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky also expressed another important point that came to light on Monday evening at the presentation in the SSJB premises. He was a brilliant goalscorer, but behind that he was the man with heart who left his mark on people.
“If I had something to say to him, it would be very simple, like the man he was: ‘Mike, it was a very special experience watching you play and it was a pleasure knowing you, with you to play and.’ against you and above all to be your friend,” writes Gretzky.
Presentation of the book “50 days in the life of Mike Bossy” by Mikaël Lalancette on Monday, October 16, 2023, in Montreal. In this photo: François Legault, Tanya Bossy, Gabrielle Bossy Lépine, Marie-Anne Alepin, Josiane Bossy and Alex Bossy Lépine. Photo agency QMI, JOEL LEMAY Photo agency QMI, JOEL LEMAY
Beyond his nine consecutive 50-goal seasons in the National Hockey League, Bossy took special care of his wife Lucie, his daughters Josiane and Tanya, without forgetting his granddaughters Alexe and Gabrielle. Bossy died on April 15, 2022 and was often reluctant to publish a biography, but his story deserved to be told. A duty of remembrance for his family, but also for Quebec as a whole.
“Mike Bossy represents what we all need,” concluded Marie-Anne Alepin. If we want to continue living in French in our Quebec culture, we need more Mike Bossy.
- The book 50 days in the life of Mike Bossy, published by Éditions de l’Homme, is available in bookstores from Wednesday.