Boom-Boom on Top

In a hockey game with the fifth-place New York Rangers last week, Bernard ("Boom-Boom") Geoffrion, famed young right wing of the league-leading Montreal Canadiens, seemed half asleep most of the time. But in the first period he fed an assist to the Canadiens' Bert Olmstead (one point for Geoffrion) and in the third period he scored a goal himself, a blazing 30-footer (another point). This brought his total points this year to 35 and his goals to 21--high for the league. Boom-Boom's 21st goal meant cash to him. His base pay is about $14,000, substantial for hockey; he got a $1,000 bonus for his 20th goal, and he gets an estimated $100 bonus for each goal after that.

Geoffrion is the hottest thing on ice today, although he has spent his brief big-time career--only three full seasons with Montreal--in the shadow of two great stars: his teammate and idol, Maurice ("the Rocket") Richard, and brilliant Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings. But Richard, who holds the alltime records,* is slowing down a bit and Howe was out of action with a shoulder injury for six games this autumn, and fell behind.

Says the Canadiens' press book of Boom-Boom: "His biggest failing seems to be his inability to play consistently, probably due to his fiery nature and temperament." Last season fiery-natured Geoffrion got into a stick-swinging brawl with the Rangers' Ron Murphy. The Canadiens say Murphy swung first but missed, then Geoffrion naturally retaliated--and broke Murphy's jaw. Geoffrion was fined and forbidden to play the Rangers for the rest of the season.

Lately, Boom-Boom seems to have kept his temper in check. His fans note that he has acquired some of the social graces, such as saying "Pardon me" when he belches and making polite small talk while signing autographs. He smokes big cigars, wears sharp clothes, owns two apartment houses. Geoffrion is also a family man (married to Marlene Morenz, figure-skating daughter of a hockey immortal, the late Howie Morenz).

The Canadiens have not won an N.H.L. championship since 1947, but this year they devoutly expect to beat both the formidable Detroit Red Wings and the skilled but conservative Toronto Maple Leafs in the league standings and in the Stanley Cup (a sort of World Series of hockey). Boom-Boom himself is confident, and when victory is in sight, as he puts it eloquently, "Oh boy, then we hit it up. We eat good, we see a show, we have a big time. It's a great life. I love hockey."

*Last week, against the Chicago Black Hawks, Richard scored the 400th goal of his career, making him the highest in N.H.L. history.

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