An award that Mike Bossy deserved 40 years ago

National fibers flew Monday evening in Montreal during the launch of the CV 50 days in the life of Mike Bossy While the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Association recognizes the right of the wrong of the past by awarding the late hockey player, posthumously, with the Maurice Richard Award.

“This surrender should have happened a long time ago,” admitted Marie-Anne Albin, president of the Society of Saint-Jean-Baptiste (SSJB) in Montreal.

• Read also: The biography that Tanya Posey has been waiting for for a long time

As stated in the book written by journalist Mikael Lalancet, in collaboration with Tania Bossi, one of Mike’s daughters, the New York Islanders player was recommended for this award in 1982. In order to avoid the controversy surrounding the origins of speaking English [et ukrainiennes] De Bussy, the decision was made not to award the award even though founder Pierre Harvey was also one of the candidates in the running.

“While doing research for the book, we spoke to family members, including my mother, to understand that my father was very sad, disappointed and affected,” Tanya Posey said about the episode. We realized that this had an impact on my father.

She added: “Of course we would have liked it to have been done when my father was there, but we cannot change the past.” The combination of this award ceremony and the book launch is truly perfect. “I’m sure my father is there somewhere.”

In the presence of the Prime Minister

Among the guests who attended the launch, Quebec Premier François Legault spoke admiringly of Mike Bossy.

“I am happy that he has a CV in French and that he received the Maurice Richard Prize from Saint-Jean-Baptiste,” Mr. Legault noted. “Like many Quebecers, I loved Mike Bossy.”

“It’s about time,” said former politician Gil Duceppe, who stressed that he often submitted a request to the SSJB to honor Mike Bossy during his lifetime. It’s very unusual. This man did not speak French, he arrived with Laval [dans le hockey junior]He learned French and became a commentator. There is no better example of integration.

“When I arrived in Quebec, I was 6 years old,” Tania Posi recalls. My father could have sent my sister and me to an English-speaking school, but he wanted us to go to a French-speaking school, both primary and secondary. In fact, I always spoke to my father in French.

Speaking of the book launch, she now feels relieved and says she no longer fears her father being forgotten.

“This fear I had was useless, because the book exists,” she said.

Introduction by Gretzky

By signing the introduction, legendary hockey player Wayne Gretzky also put his finger on another important point that came to light Monday evening during the launch event held at the SSJB offices. He was a great goalscorer, but behind him was a man with a heart who left his mark on people.

“If I had one thing to say to him, it would be very simple, like the man he was: ‘Mike, watching you play was a very special experience, and it was a pleasure getting to know you, playing with you and ‘against you, and above all being your friend,’ Gretzky writes.

Launch of the book “50 Days in the Life of Mike Bossy” by Mickaël Lallancet, in Montreal, Monday, October 16, 2023. In this photo: François Legault, Tania Bossy, Gabrielle Bossy Lépine, Marie-Anne Albin, Josiane Bossy and Alex. Busy Libin. QMI Photography Agency, Joel Lemay.

QMI Photography Agency, Joel Lemay

In addition to his nine consecutive 50-goal seasons in the NHL, Bossy took special care of his wife, Lucy, and his daughters, Josiane and Tanya, not forgetting his granddaughters, Alex and Gabrielle. Posey died on April 15, 2022, and has often been reluctant to publish his autobiography, but his story deserves to be told. A duty of remembrance for his family, but also for Quebec as a whole.

“Mike Posey represents what we all need,” Mary Ann Albin concluded. If we want to continue to live in French, in our Quebecois culture, we need more Mike Bossy.

• The book is published by Éditions de l’Homme 50 days in the life of Mike Bossy It will be available in bookstores starting Wednesday.