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MONTREAL -- Guy Lapointe was gardening in his front yard last week when Montreal Canadiens owner Geoff Molson pulled up to his house for an unannounced visit. Brandon Dillon Jersey . Lapointe didnt know what was in store for him. As it turned out, the former Canadiens defenceman was about to receive an unexpected honour. From Lapointes kitchen in Saint-Lazare, Que., Molson announced that the Hall-of-Famer will become the 18th player in Canadiens history to have his jersey retired by the team. The retirement ceremony will occur during the course of this coming National Hockey League season. "Its extraordinary," Lapointe said Thursday at the Canadiens Hall of Fame, located at the Bell Centre. "With the people Ill be next to -- Jean Beliveau, Henri Richard, Guy Lafleur, Larry Robinson, Serge Savard -- I just cant stop thinking about it. I was happy with just looking up at those jerseys. I never thought, in all sincerity, that my number would be retired. It never crossed my mind." On Thursday, the Canadiens organization made official the decision to retire Lapointes No. 5, the first jersey to be honoured since 2009 when Elmer Lach and Emile (Butch) Bouchard received whats considered one of the most prestigious honours in sports. Lapointe, 66, will finally be reunited with his Big Three teammates -- Savard and Robinson -- in the Bell Centre rafters. Savards No. 18 was retired in 2006, and Robinsons No. 19 joined the following year. Known as much for their staunch defending and offensive prowess, the Big Three were instrumental in Montreals six Stanley Cup victories in the 1970s. And the three defencemen were on hand at the Bell Centre on Thursday to celebrate Lapointes big day. "Im happy to see you both here," the Montreal native Lapointe told his former teammates before pointing to the rafters. "But Ill be even happier to see you up there when my jersey is going to be retired." Between 1968 and 1984, Lapointe played 16 seasons in the NHL -- 12 of them with the Canadiens before brief stints with the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins. Always a threat on the power play, Lapointe was known for his explosive speed, his inspired bouts of offence, and his rocket of a slapshot. He recorded 622 points in 894 career games, and ranks second in goals by a Canadiens defenceman with 166. Nicknamed Pointu, Lapointe had three consecutive 20-goal seasons, and still holds the Canadiens record for most goals in a year by a defenceman with 28. In his first complete season with the Habs in 1970-71, Lapointes 15 goals set a franchise record for a rookie defenceman. The record still stands today. "A lot of minutes in a lot of situations -- thats the way he was," said Robinson of Lapointe, whom he compared to Montreals P.K. Subban. "Guy could hold his own against anybody. He could play in all situations, play a lot of minutes. Thats the reason hes in the Hall of Fame. "Its very fitting to have his sweater up there. Im glad I got mine up there first -- I finally beat him at something." Lapointe was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993, two years before Robinson. He won six Stanley Cups -- all with the Canadiens -- including four consecutive championships between 1976 and 1979. "I grew up with this excellent organization," said Lapointe, who also pointed to the 1972 Summit Series in Moscow and 1976 Canada Cup -- both memorable victories for Canada -- as exceptional moments in his career. "The Canadiens helped me become a better hockey player and a better person. The team allowed me to reach goals I didnt even think were possible. "Winning was always our goal. That paid dividends throughout my career. I was a lucky person to make the team. I owe a lot to the Montreal Canadiens. Theyve been very good to me." Off the ice, Lapointe was known as a prankster, notorious for shaking hands with former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau with a palm covered in Vaseline. After Lach and Bouchard had their jerseys retired in 2009 -- the ninth and 10th such commemorative event in the five years leading up to the Canadiens centennial anniversary -- the teams organization put the process on hold. Fans clamoured for Lapointe to join the Canadiens legends in the rafters, including the defencemans daughter Stephanie, who started a petition last year to have her fathers jersey retired. "Dreams really do come true!" Stephanie Lapointe tweeted on Wednesday when the news was announced. "Never give up! I am beyond proud of my dad! Finally he is being awarded this honour!" Molson says the Canadiens organizations focus over the last five years has been rebuilding the team on the ice. On Thursday, he said the time was finally right to give Lapointe his long-awaited recompense. "Its a name that kept resurfacing when we bought the team in 2009," said Molson of the final Big Three defenceman. "We were in the process of retiring a lot of jerseys at that time. "I feel good about the organization (now). I feel good about the development of our players, the general manager, and our support staff. Were well on our way to having a winning organization year after year. The fans have had a break from the centennial celebrations. And its a nice surprise for Lapointe." Notes: Lapointe is currently the Minnesota Wilds amateur scouting co-ordinator. a Robinson flew up from San Jose, Calif., on two days notice for the event. a Howie Morenzs No. 7 was the first jersey retired by the Canadiens, in 1937. a Lapointes is the second No. 5 to be retired by the Canadiens. He joins Bernie (Boom Boom) Geoffrion, whose jersey was raised to the rafters in 2006. Greer Martini Jersey . -- The Jacksonville Jaguars are bringing back quarterback Chad Henne -- and making him the starter. Alexander Hollins Jersey . Halak did not get the start in the Washington Capitals Tuesday night game against the St. http://www.cheapvikingsjerseyselite.com/?tag=cheap...-jr-jer sey . Hes still nowhere close to throwing yet. The four-time MVP was in good spirits when he made his first public appearance on the field since having neck surgery Sept.Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Kobe Bryant scored nine of his game-high 29 points in the fourth quarter and the Los Angeles Lakers went into Houston and stunned the Rockets, 98-92, to win their second straight game. Bryant shot just 10-of-28 from the floor but added seven assists for Los Angeles, which improved to 3-9 on the season. Jordan Hill and Nick Young both scored 16 points, and Carlos Boozer posted 12 points and 13 boards. James Harden, who was shooting just 37.2 percent from the field prior to Wednesdays game, hit an efficient 7-for-11 for 24 points and added seven assists in Houstons second straight defeat. Kostas Papanikolaou contributed 19 points off the bench and Patrick Beverley scored 15 for the Rockets, who were without star center Dwight Howard. The former Laker was held out against his old team with a strained right knee. Howard also made headlines for the wrong reasons this week after multiple media outlets reported that he was under investigation for allegedly hitting his six-year-old son with a belt. No charges have been filed. Houston led 75-70 through three quarters, but Young set the tone for LAs fourth with a jumper 15 seconds in. Beverley and Jason Terry hit consecutive 3s to creatte some distance, however the Lakers kept coming. Randy Moss Jersey . Hill and Young both scored four during an 8-0 run, which Young finished with an acrobatic reverse layup at 6:19 to put the Lakers in front. Houston responded and led by three when Harden was pure with a stepback jumper out of a timeout for a 91-86 game. Bryant kept the Lakers alive at the other end when his deep two rattled around and fell despite getting fouled. He sank the free throw to pull the Lakers to within two with 1:43 to play. Tarik Black, Howards replacement in the starting lineup, then split a pair at the line and Wesley Johnson made two after drawing a foul on Beverley crashing the offensive glass. On Houstons next trip, Harden lost the ball and Johnson converted a three-point play in transition to put the Lakers in front. Following another timeout, Black missed a sweeping lefty hook and the ball caromed out of bounds. The Lakers gained possession and took care of business from the free throw line. Game Notes Los Angeles outscored Houston 38-20 in the paint ... The Lakers are 2-0 this season with Young in the lineup ... The Lakers will look to make it three straight wins when they visit Dallas on Friday. 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