Stephen Brunt on Jean Beliveau

[@phil0910]

Salut Gros Bill, vous avez eu un influence primordial a toute une generation de Quebecois. Merci pour votre presence, et d'avoir fait rêver votre humble supporteur , ainsi que tout les enfants du Quebec.

[@63caster]

The epitomy and very définition of class and yet, so humble and caring. Quite a life, hard not to be inspired to be a better person yourself.

[@flemingcourt]

Of the countless moments of hockey from the golden age of hockey, THIS one marks as one of the greatest.

[@robertgosselin14]

Jean Beliveau, def. : pure class, humble, integrity, talented, winner, role model, legend, icon ... immortal ...

[@knarf_on_a_bike]

Jean was my hockey hero. My favourite player. My idol. And a beautiful human being. RIP.

[@Classicrocker6119]

I became a hockey fan because of Jean Beliveau as did many others. May he RIP.

[@4orrcountry]

Big Jean had the respect of everyone in hockey. Everyone.

[@mrktyb]

Always nice and a good word for eveybody. He was very very humble man too, always saying that he was just lucky.

[@chais1111]

turning down the appointment of governor general to help his family through hard times, to me that's the description of a real man. Best role model ever, period.

[@aseyete]

2009: I met him at a business function and had a conversation with him. The man was soft-spoken, chose his words carefully and exuded dignity, confidence, intelligence and leadership all at once. Thereafter, I understood why he became the captain of the Montreal Canadiens. ( FYI at 2:58, to Punch Imlach's left, is Willie O'Ree, the first black player to play in the NHL. He played with the Quebec Aces from 1956 to 1959.)

[@secondguess3128]

The black player is not O'Ree, he's Herb Carnegie. Béliveau left Quebec 3 years before O'Ree arrived. Béliveau was too diplomatic to use words like "racism" or "blackballed," but he often said Carnegie was good enough for the NHL -- in fact, Conn Smythe was said to have told Carnegie directly he would be a Maple Leaf if not for his colour (supposedly offering $10,000 to anyone who could turn him white). Carnegie actually got a minor-league offer from the Rangers in the late 1940s (he was 16 years older than O'Ree), but turned it down because he was making more money in Quebec.

[@bufnyfan1]

My father saw Mr. Beliveau having breakfast at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto in 1980 (he was in town as he always did when asked to help a children's charity)-my father very timidly walked up and said "I'm sorry Mr. Beliveau I don't want to bother you but could I have your autograph". Mr. Beliveau said without any hesitation "Bother me...SIR you just made my day!". My father carried that memory for the rest of his life--Mr. Beliveau was pure class and kindness

[@patrickgaudette6322]

On vous aimes Jean , de Windsor Ontario .❤

[@RickSeraf]

A hero of Canadiens and a hero to Canadians.

[@stevefrandsen7897]

I miss Jean very much.

[@nancetardiff339]

Regal is the word that comes to mind

[@Kariakas]

The leadership factor does not show up in statistics besides maybe the numbers of cups. A true selfless leader that elevated his teammates.

[@buddmannable]

Seeing Jean in that suit and tie....he could have played James Bond!

[@September2004]

On the one hand, I wished the Bruins had won in ‘71, and on the other hand, I hate the thought of him not ending his career with a Cup, which was 10th and favorite.

[@hodaka07]

As great a player as Jean Beliveau was he was a much better human being, he was what we all strive to be as Canadian

[@mrktyb]

10 Stanley cups as a player and 7 times as a manager !!! Can you imagine 17 bags !

[@secondguess3128]

I believe you mean 17 rings. C'est le mot anglais pour bagues. Et t'es ben correct. C'est incroyable.

[@Edwardo485]

​@@secondguess3128And it's also incredible that they CH Haven't won a Stanley Cup in 31 years.

[@mrktyb]

At 2:56 we can see the famous Punch Imlach, then the coach in Quebec City.

[@dougleclaire9424]

Wait...what is this host's name?? Wilde Weirder?

[@richardblais5232]

He held the Cup properly ...

[@NequeNon]

They don’t make em’ like that anymore...

[@34Packardphaeton]

My understanding was that the Habs only had "dibs" for the first TWO French-Canadien players in any given year or draft... NOT ALL of them!

[@secondguess3128]

The Canadiens' option of taking 2 francophones ahead of all other selections was a feature instituted with the first draft in 1963 -- consisting of players whose rights weren't already held by NHL teams (the first universal draft wasn't until 1969) -- but exercised by the team only in 1968 and 1969. For most of the pre-expansion period, teams were able to secure pro rights of individual players -- most of whom committed by their mid-teens -- for sponsorship of teams in designated areas. For all intents and purposes, the Habs controlled the entire province of Quebec. If I'm not mistaken, Montreal added some leverage to attempts to lure Béliveau from the Aces by buying the entire Quebec Senior Hockey League, thereby gaining the rights to every player in the league. The final incentive was bringing Béliveau full-time into the NHL as its highest paid player, with a 5-year contract worth $100,000. This apparently rankled Maurice Richard, who was subsequently placated by contracts with the salary figure left blank -- for him to fill in.

[@sdeepj]

Not really. It only applied to filling out the roster, where the Habs had dibs on players from Quebec and the Leafs had dibs on players from Ontario. When it came to blue chip players, it was a free for all, any team can sign them. The Rangers were able to sign Rod Gilbert and Jean Ratelle, both are Québécois. The most egregious case was the Bruins signing Bobby Orr at 13.

[@34Packardphaeton]

@@sdeepj ... Bobby HULL's father signed for his son when Bobby was 12.

[@claudettelefebvre8421]

Très chanceuse 🍀 de mon idole Jean Béliveau du CH » capitaine de 🏒 🥅🏒👍🇲🇶🇨🇦🥅sa fête 🎂 le 31 août 1931 et les Jumelles 👯‍♀️ Claudette e Jeannette Le Febvre le 31 août 1941 de la Ville de Coaticook Québec. Nos idole sont: No 9 :Maurice Richard et frère Henri Richard et le plus jeune 🧒 Claude Richard. Le beau et no 4 grand Jean Béliveau et le No 10 le demon blond cheveux au vent 💨 Guy Lafleur de Thurso du Québec🇲🇶Canada 🇨🇦 Henri Richard 11 coupes STANLEY nom inscrit.

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

I believe "Beliveau Cup" would be appropriate name change for Stanley 🏒🥅