Boom Boom - out go the lights

What a bad year for all-time greats. Don Knotts. Darrin McGavin. Boom Boom Geoffrion.

Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion, the hockey Hall of Famer credited with inventing the slapshot, died yesterday before his No. 5 jersey was to be retired on the same day by the Montreal Canadiens.

Mr. Geoffrion, who helped lead powerhouse Montreal teams to six Stanley Cups in the 1950s and early '60s, died after a brief battle with stomach cancer. He was 75.

He was the first player to bring his stick far above his head when shooting, creating a powerful shot that led to his nickname - the sound of his stick hitting the puck made a boom and the sound of the puck hitting the boards made another boom.

He also made one of the best Less Filling/Tastes Great commercials of all time. RIP, Boom Boom.