http://www.cbc.ca/story/sports/national/2006/02/26/Sports/lafleur_punched_vacation060226.html

Hockey legend Guy Lafleur usually knew he could expect to get knocked around on the ice but he wasn't prepared to get decked on vacation recently in South America.

Lafleur was sucker-punched by a thief during a robbery attempt a week ago in Buenos Aires as he, his wife and another couple were getting off a shuttle.

Three thugs on motorcycles surprised the Canadian vacationers. One of them attacked Lafleur's friend and managed to grab his wife's watch. Lafleur was also blindsided by a punch that left him with a black eye.

"I didn't have any time to react before I got a sucker-punch in the eye," said the former goal-scoring great with the Montreal Canadiens, Quebec Nordiques and New York Rangers. "It was like one of the players from the Bruins.

"I didn't fall," the Hockey Hall of Fame inductee noted.

Lafleur said the robbers vanished as quickly as they appeared and the incident wasn't reported to police because the travellers didn't want to lose time.

He cautions tourists to be mindful of wearing jewelry when traveling and suggests they keep their valuables out of sight.

with files from Le Journal de Montreal


Guy Lafleur is nursing a black eye from a sucker-punch while on vacation in South America.