Hall of Famer Guy Lafleur says being dumped into the media spotlight last week over legal trouble surrounding his son Mark has been a hellish experience.
But the former Montreal Canadiens star was philosophical over his legal woes in his weekly newspaper column in the Journal de Montreal on Sunday.
"No matter what happens to us in life, we must get back on our feet and continue on the path,'' Lafleur wrote. "Yesterday there was a storm, today it looks good.''
Lafleur says a positive approach is the only way to get out of problems and nothing is worse than dwelling on things and feeling sorry for yourself.
Lafleur devoted some space in the column, mainly on Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin, to his recent legal woes after a warrant was issued against him on Wednesday.
The 56-year-old hockey legend wrote he didn't want to give any details on the case, but thanked those who came to his defence in what he called a difficult time.
Montreal Canadiens fans appear to have rallied behind the former hockey superstar and some have defended their embattled hero as a father who was just trying to protect a child.
Lafleur is charged with giving contradictory evidence at his son Mark's bail hearing.
Lafleur testified in October that his son was respecting a court-ordered curfew while in his parents' custody.
But he later admitted he drove his son to hotels to spend the night with his 16-year-old girlfriend.
Lafleur's son faces more than 20 criminal charges, including sexually assaulting a minor, armed assault, uttering threats and forcible confinement.
The alleged incidents took place between 2004 and 2007.
The younger Lafleur has been behind bars since his arrest in September for violating his original bail conditions. His trial is scheduled for March.
Guy Lafleur returns to court this Thursday for his arraignment.
Lafleur's lawyer has said Mark Lafleur suffers from Tourette's syndrome. Tourette's is a neurological disorder that causes physical and vocal tics and can also leave one prone to sudden, aggressive verbal tirades.
The Hall of Famer urged the public not to be too quick to judge him.
"Absolutely, there are a certain percentage of people who have judged without knowing anything -- say about 20 per cent maximum,'' Lafleur wrote, adding that's the way things go in a democracy.
Guy Lafleur, 56, had 560 goals and 793 assists in 1,126 games with the Canadiens, New York Rangers and Quebec Nordiques. He won five Stanley Cups with the Canadiens.
