Legendary Jean Beliveau dead at age 83

By Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press

MONTREAL - It is hard to imagine a classier hockey player, on and off the ice, than Jean Beliveau.

A supremely skilled centre for 18 seasons for the Montreal Canadiens, the 83-year-old Beliveau was also a gracious spokesman for the team and the sport.

The NHL club lost the man who embodied all the attributes of their dynasty teams of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s talent, flair, intelligence and success.

He scored 507 goals, won 10 Stanley Cups and was captain for 10 seasons before his retirement in 1971, then moved seamlessly into an executive position with the club.

Words like class and gentleman were attached to Beliveau by virtually everyone who met him.

"Like millions of hockey fans who followed the life and the career of Jean Beliveau, the Canadiens today mourn the passing of a man whose contribution to the development of our sport and our society was unmeasurable," team owner Geoff Molson said in a statement posted on the Canadiens' website.

"Jean Beliveau was a great leader, a gentleman and arguably the greatest ambassador our game has ever known," Molson added.

"Meeting him is not like meeting other stars from the old days," said Beliveaus former linemate Gilles Tremblay, who died last week.

"When people see Bobby Hull, they say: 'Hi Bobby.' When they meet Big Jean, it's always: 'Hi, Mr. Beliveau.' He commands respect."

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Legendary Jean Beliveau dead at age 83