Bernie Geoffrion

Canadian ice hockey right winger who pioneered the slapshot and won six Stanley Cups with Montreal Canadiens, earning NHL Hall of Fame induction.

Joseph André Bernard Geoffrion was born in Montreal, Quebec in 1931. He earned the nickname Boom Boom from the sound of his slap shot against the boards — a shot he is credited with perfecting as a regular offensive weapon when most players still used wrist shots. He won six Stanley Cup championships with the Montreal Canadiens (1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960). He won the Calder Trophy as best rookie in 1952 and the Hart Trophy as MVP in 1961 — when he scored 50 goals to match Maurice Richard's record. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972 and named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in 2017. His 50-goal season in 1960-61 made him only the second player in NHL history to reach that milestone, following Richard's 1944-45 season. His development and popularisation of the slap shot as a primary weapon changed how hockey was played — every slap shot in the modern game traces its lineage to his innovation.

Geoffrion was known for his explosive slap shot, which earned him the nickname 'Boom Boom' for the sound the puck made hitting the boards. He was an aggressive, hard-shooting right winger who combined physical play with offensive skill. His willingness to experiment with the slap shot technique helped revolutionize hockey's offensive approach.

Geoffrion is credited as one of the pioneers who popularized the slap shot in professional hockey, fundamentally changing how the game is played offensively.

• Stanley Cup 6x (1953,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960)
• Hart Trophy (1961)
• Calder Trophy (1952)
• Hall of Fame (1972)
• NHL 100 Greatest Players