Having been removed from playing the game of hockey for 38 years, Montreal Canadiens legend Jean Béliveau is still well recognized in the hockey world.
Today, the 77-year-old Hall of Famer was announced as the honorary captain for Canada’s 2010 Olympic Hockey Team.
Béliveau received a Team Canada jersey, bearing the famous No. 4 that he wore with the Canadiens for twenty years.
Former teammates Serge Savard and Yvan Cournoyer were on hand to present the jersey at a news conference for the Hockey Canada Foundation gala and celebrity golf tournament on Monday in Montreal.
“It's unbelievable to think of some of the players who never had the chance to represent Canada in international play,” said Bob Nicholson, president and CEO of Hockey Canada.
“It's about time we see the great Jean Béliveau in a Team Canada sweater.”
Béliveau was a ten-time Stanley Cup winner as a player with the Canadiens and added seven more as an executive.
His seventeen appearances on the Stanley Cup is a record in the NHL as his his team record ten years as captain.
Béliveau was the first recipient of the Conn Smythe Trophy, given to the playoff MVP, in 1965.
He recorded 1219 points (507 goals, 712 assists) in 1125 games during the regular season and 176 points (79G, 97A) in 162 playoff games.
He retired as a player in 1971, missing the ‘72 Summit Series.
Since the IIHF did not allow professionals to compete in the World Championships until 1977, Béliveau never had an opportunity to compete at an international level.
Earlier this month, Béliveau received a Lifetime Achievement award from the NHL, for his dedication to the game of hockey, during the 2009 NHL Awards in Las Vegas.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman could not have summed it up any better when he told the audience;
“Jean Béliveau was a star, a statesman of our game. He is the emblem of elegance and class.”
OK, well maybe he could have said it a bit better, Jean Béliveau still IS a star.
Below is just a portion of the list of NHL and non-NHL awards Jean Béliveau has received
| Stanley Cups | 10 as a player, 7 as executive |
| Hart Trophy | 1956, 1964 |
| Art Ross Trophy | 1956 |
| Conn Smythe Trophy | 1965, inaugural winner |
| All-Star Game appearances | 14 |
| First Team All-Star, 2nd Team | Six times, Four times |
| Jersey No.4 retired by Canadiens | October 9, 1971 |
| Hockey Hall of Fame | 1972 |
| Honorary Degree in Physical Education (Univ. of Moncton) | 1972 |
| Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee | 1981 |
| Knight of the National Order of Quebec | 1988 and promoted to officer in 2006 |
| Loyola Medal (Loyola College) | 1995 |
| Companion of the Order of Canada | 1998 |
| Canada’s Walk of Fame | 2001 |
| Canada Postage Stamp | 2001 |
| Honorary Doctorate of Laws – McGill University | 2006 |
| NHL Lifetime Achievement Award | 2009 |
| Honorary Captain - 2010 Team Canada Olympic Hockey Team | 2009 |
Jean Béliveau was also offered the post of Governor General of Canada in 1994, but declined the position due to personal reasons.
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