Hockey Hall of Famer Guy Lapointe has oral cancer

71-year-old, who won 6 Stanley Cups with Canadiens, to begin treatment in coming weeks

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Caption: Hall of Famer Guy Lapointe, who played much of his 16-year NHL career with the Canadiens, has been diagnosed with oral cancer. (Graham Hughes/Canadian Press/File)

The Montreal Canadiens say Hockey Hall of Famer Guy Lapointe has been diagnosed with oral cancer.
The NHL team issued a statement this morning at the request of Lapointe and his family.
The cancer is located at the base of the tongue and the 71-year-old will begin treatments in the coming weeks.
The statement also says this form of cancer has a high cure rate.
Lapointe, a Montreal native, played most of his 16-year NHL career with the Canadiens.
The defenceman won the Stanley Cup on six occasions with Montreal before closing out his career with stops in St. Louis and Boston.