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Canadiens’ legend Jean Beliveau has passed away

Jean Beliveau

Montreal Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau passed away on Tuesday night the club announced, he was 83.

Beliveau spent parts of 20 seasons with the Canadiens winning 10 Stanley Cups. He added seven more Championship rings as a member of the Canadiens management team.

In total Beliveau appeared in 1,125 games scoring 507 goals and 1,219 points.

“The Montreal Canadiens organization is extremely moved by Mr. Béliveau’s passing away. Like millions of hockey fans who followed the life and the career of Jean Béliveau, the Canadiens today mourn the passing of a man whose contribution to the development of our sport and our society was unmeasurable. Jean Béliveau was a great leader, a gentleman and arguably the greatest ambassador our game has ever known,” said the president of the Montreal Canadiens, Mr. Geoff Molson.

“Jean Béliveau was part of the Canadiens family for over six decades. The Canadiens organization will bring all the needed support to the members of Jean Béliveau’s family, and will work closely with them to organize the ceremonies that will take place in the coming days. On behalf of the Molson family, and all members of the Canadiens organization, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to his beloved wife Élise, his daughter Hélène and granddaughters Magalie and Mylène.”

Over the course of his career Beliveau won the Art Ross Trophy (1956), Conn Smythe (1965) and the Hart Trophy (1956 and 1964). He appeared in 14 All-Star games and was the recipient of the NHL Lifetime Achievement award in 2009.

He served as the Habs’ captain for 10 years, the longest serving captain in franchise history, which was later matched by Saku Koivu.

When he retired following the 1970-71 season, he did so as the franchise leader in points, second in goals and the NHL’s all-time leading playoff scorer.

His No. 4 was raised to the rafters of the Montreal Forum on October 9, 1971. The Hockey Hall of Fame waived its’ three-year waiting period to immediately induct Beliveau in June 1972.

Beliveau had been in poor health the last number of years. He had a battle with cancer in 2000 and suffered strokes in 2010 and 2012.

Beliveau is survived by his wife Elise; their daughter, Helene; and granddaughters Mylene and Magalie.

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