'A hero to me': Alberta Lafleur fan, stabbed in jersey at age 9, recounts meeting idol post-attack

It was January 1980 and a cold winter in Calgary, Cory Gurnsey was just nine years old when he was stabbed in his Guy Lafleur jersey.

He was walking home from Victoria Park School when he was randomly attacked by a man, who had just been released from prison.

He was beaten and stabbed eight times.

"I didn't even know I was being stabbed at the time," said Gurnsey from his Lethbridge home. "Everything went numb, when it penetrated, but it felt like like a pin cushion."

Gurnsey was wearing his iconic Montreal Canadiens jersey with Lafleur's famous number 10 printed on the back. Doctors had to cut it off so they could ultimately save his life.

"He only had a five per cent chance of making it," said Laura, Gurnsey's mother.

Lafleur caught wind of the incident and visited Gurnsey at the Holy Cross Hospital. It was that meeting Laura believes gave her son the power to live.

"They told him about everything that was going on, and it was just great," she said. "He just seemed to come around just like that."

Cory Gurnsey had the opportunity to meet Montreal Canadiens star Guy Lafleur (Supplied).

Weeks later, Lafleur flew the Gurnseys out to Montreal to watch the Canadiens take on the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"After I was out of hospital, that's when I got flown to Montreal and Guy promised me, he will score a goal for me," said Gurnsey. "And he did against Toronto. He put (the puck) on a plaque after, and signed it."

Cory Gurnsey holds a plaque presented to him after Guy Lafleur scored a goal for him (Supplied).

Laura Gurnsey says she continues to cherish those moments 42 years later and says many hockey fans will miss Lafleur.

"It was a shock when I found out he passed away," she said. "He's like a big brother."

Cory says the traumatic injuries have led to him suffering from PTSD, a learning disorder and several mental health issues.

He says Lafleur impacted his life significantly, and he was saddened to learn of his death.

"I wish for his wife and kids, I'm sorry for their loss, and I hope the real best for them," said Gurnsey.

A national funeral will be held in Montreal on May 3 for the National Hockey League great.

Lafleur was 70.