The Canadian sports world is saying goodbye to one of it's all-time stars.
Hockey Hall of Famer Jean Beliveau passed away at the age of 83. He captained the Montreal Canadiens during the ‘60s and played on 10 Stanley Cup champions before he retired. His last championship came after a win over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 7 in the spring of 1971.
He left the NHL with 507 goals, and left many hockey fans with great memories of his 18-year career.
I grew up in the ‘60s and the Canadiens were my favourite team. Many of my memories are of watching No. 4 play with such skill, while providing outstanding leadership on the ice for the Habs.
I remember sitting up late on a Saturday night watching him score his only overtime goal in 1969 to knock off Boston in the semi-final. I also fondly remember watching the highlights in 1971 as he reached the 500-goal mark by scoring a hat-trick in a game against the Minnesota North Stars.
As good as he was on the ice, he was equally elegant off it. I had the chance to do a phone-interview with him several years ago on my CKPR radio show Sportsline.
It was to provide some insight on the former chief scout of the Canadiens in the late 1950s and early ‘60s and a very well-known Thunder Bay behind-the-scenes hockey person, Louis Passador.
It was one of the highlights from the days when I did that show.
Jean Beliveau was one for the ages, and those of us who watched him play are glad for it.
