A big thanks to Sean Mitton, President and Founder of the Canadian Expat Network, for providing this to pass on.
Sean had a great chat with Habs legend Yvan Cournoyer, who was a guest of the RBC Cup “Canada vs. USA - Battle of the Beach”, in Myrtle Beach SC.
The USA squad took the overall team event, but the real winners were a local charity that will receive the $15,000 in donations raised.
More on the event can be found here.
Some bad news for Canadiens figurine collectors.
McFarlane Toys, makers of NHL licensed figures, has cancelled two of it’s Montreal Canadiens Centennial 2 Pack Series.
McFarlane began the line, exclusive to Wal-Mart Canada, with a 2-packs featuring Hall of Famers Guy Lafleur and Steve Shutt, and a Saku Koivu /Alex Kovalev pairing.
Three more pairings were scheduled for release through 2009
Yvan Cournoyer/Jean Beliveau
Maurice Richard/Jacques Plante
Patrick Roy/Carey Price
The Cournoyer/Beliveau set was due at the end of July. A poster on a collector’s board received this reply on July 28:
We've run into a real economic slowdown up there in Canada, and at Walmart in particular.
As a result, the remaining -packs are all likely to be cancelled - the Beliveau/Cournoyer has definitely been cancelled.
Sorry the program didn't work out.
McFarlane Toys
I made an inquiry on my own, noting that the Roy/Price set still appears on McFarlane’s site with a November release date.
The response I received today is as follows:
Thank you for your email.
Unfortunately it seems the only Centennial 2 packs have been produced so far these are Koivu with Kovalev and LaFleur with Shutt.
Richard with Plante and Beliveau with Cournoyer have been cancelled as of now.
The Roy and Price has been scheduled for November. Thank you and take care.
Sincerely,
McFarlane Toys Customer Service
Several Wal-Marts are still well stocked with the first pairings at and inflated $34.99 each.
Considering regular single player issues typically start around $13-$14, you’d be best to give it a month or two and grab them at a reduced price.
While the economy is one factor, a collector friend of mine felt that perhaps McFarlane should not have let off with a pairing of two Habs players whose futures with the team were questionable in a matter of months.
It wouldn’t be at all surprising if some already produced issues of the cancelled pairs manage to find their way onto eBay, etc. in coming weeks.
In the mean time, look at the cool Habs stuff I got on sale over my weekend off!!!!!
I should also mention that Pro Hockey Life, the one in Mississauga anyways, currently has Habs Centennial merchandise on for 30% off (including jerseys) and “traded player” merch at 50% off.
I don’t know if it applies online, but if you live near a location, you can grab some deals before the 2009-10 season starts.
Well the Montreal Canadiens roster officially got trimmed by one more player.
Despite a “rally of the masses” on Sunday afternoon at the Bell Centre, Habs GM Bob Gainey told CJAD radio on Monday that Alex Kovalev would not be returning.
Hours later, Kovalev took the money ($10 million over two years) and ran up the highway to Ottawa Senators.
The Northeast Division will be fun to watch this season without a doubt.
With Kovalev’s departure and the likely signing of Saku Koivu to either Buffalo, Atlanta, Anaheim or whatever square Eklund’s rumor dart hit this afternoon, this leaves the captain and all assistant captains off to greener pastures.
Mike Komisarek defected to the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1 and Christopher Higgins was traded to the New York Rangers on June 30.
The question now has to be asked, who will be the next captain?
Andrei Markov has been an assistant captain in the past but is unlikely as a captain.
You have to remember that Koivu was criticized for not speaking French. Markov can barely speak English so it’s safe to rule him out.
The Kostitsyn brothers??? Georges Laraque ??? Forget it!
Scott Gomez seems to be an early popular choice, despite not playing one game for the Canadiens.
Sorry Mr. Gomez, but there’s too much tradition to just walk in and take the “C”.
Ditto for Mike Cammalleri and Brian Gionta.
All likelihood two of these three will be alternate captains.
Young bucks Josh Gorges, Maxim Lapierre and maybe Guillaume Latendresse would be a good choices as an alternate captains in my opinion, but I feel none of this trio is at a full leadership level.
Roman Hamrlik is the long-time veteran on the team, but could be moved before the start of the season.
In any event, the Canadiens have never gone without a captain in their history.
Guy Carbonneau and Chris Chelios alternated months in the 1989-90 season when the team vote was as close as the Quebec Referendum vote.
The captaincy of the Montreal Canadiens has always been voted on by the players, so ultimately it will be up to the final roster when it is set sometime in late September.
The players may elect to go a shared route in the 2009-10 season.
Either way, that individual is the go-to man by the fans and media of a team with 100 years of history, and 16 years and counting without a Stanley Cup.
Preferably I want a long standing captain like Koivu (win or lose), and not a revolving door that we saw in the mid-90’s.
But let’s not rule out the current captain just yet, shall we?
List of Montreal Canadiens Captains
| Jack Laviolette 1909-10 | Emile Bouchard 1948-56 |
| Newsy Lalonde 1910-11 | Maurice Richard 1956-60 |
| Jack Laviolette 1911-12 | Doug Harvey 1960-61 |
| Newsy Lalonde 1912-13 | Jean Beliveau 1961-71 |
| Jimmy Gardner 1913-15 | Henri Richard 1971-75 |
| Howard McNamara 1915-16 | Yvan Cournoyer 1975-79 |
| Newsy Lalonde 1916-22 | Serge Savard 1979-81 |
| Sprague Cleghorn 1922-25 | Bob Gainey 1981-89 |
| Billy Coutu 1925-26 | G. Carbonneau/C. Chelios 1989-90 |
| Sylvio Mantha 1926-32 | Guy Carbonneau 1990-94 |
| George Hainsworth 1932-33 | Kirk Muller 1994-95 |
| Sylvio Mantha 1933-36 | Mike Keane Apr – Dec 1995 |
| Albert “Babe” Seibert 1936-39 | Pierre Turgeon 1995-96 |
| Walter Buswell 1939-40 | Vincent Damphousse 1996-99 |
| Hector “Toe” Blake 1940-48 | Saku Koivu 1999-?? |
| Bill Durnan Jan – Apr 1948 |
For the record, the last time I paid a visit to the Hall was nearly 20 years ago in it’s old diminutive home at the Exhibition grounds.
Now situated in the old Bank of Montreal Building on the northwest corner of Front and Yonge, the Hall has a massive 57,000 square foot facility to display hockey’s history.
Upon entering the foyer to the Hall through the lower level of the building, one finds a large goalie mask display known as the Mask Columns.
After paying my $15 admission, that was worth every penny, one of the first things you see are nine foot statues of Dryden and Fred “Cyclone”Taylor.
A tremendous Montreal Canadiens Centennial exhibit is currently on display with memorabilia, photos, and equipment from the storied team.
A series of cabinets feature many of the team’s most honored players.
I made several passes through this exhibit during my visit, spotting something else each time.
From Jacques Plante’s personal Hart Trophy or a copy of the program from the 1975 New Year’s Eve game against Central Red Army to Jose Theodore’s toque from the Heritage Game and Joe Hall’s 1918 contract from 1918 for $700, many a unique Canadiens relic is to be found in this exhibit.
The note issued by Campbell and Selke, forfeiting the game against Detroit during the Richard Riots
At the far end, a large video screen runs episodes of The Heroes of Hockey series, featuring Habs Hall of Famers.
If there was a chair, I would have sat there for them all!
A variety of exhibits surround the centerpiece including a tribute area of the famed Stanley Cup dynasties.
The Canadiens own three of these displays – The four Cup run from the ‘70s, the “Forgotten Dynasty” four in five from 1965 to 1969 and the unequalled five straight from 1956-1960.
As I glanced through these fantastic displays, I couldn’t help but wonder, “If that stick, jersey, glove could only talk, what stories it could tell.”
My attention then turned to one of the most popular exhibits in the hall, the to-scale replica Montreal Canadiens dressing room from the Montreal Forum.
With locker stalls for several of the Canadiens Hall of Fame players, it’s interesting to look at the equipment used in the various eras.
I sat down on the bench of Patrick Roy’s stall and took the massive goal pads up to my leg. As I did I looked at the smaller brown leather pads that Ken Dryden and Jacques Plante once used.
More history is played on video monitors above the room while you tour around.
On a quiet June Sunday morning, I was able to take a high detailed video of the room.
Making my way to the Upper Deck Collector’s Corner I found a treasure trove of Canadiens memorabilia.
Rookie cards of Dryden, Roy and Lafleur adorn one of the card displays while a complete Shiriff/Salada Coin set (in it’s display) was mounted on another.
I even came across a cardboard stand-up of Doug Risebrough from the 1970’s. I still have this one and several other of these at home still intact in their packaged form!
A media pass from the 1993 All-Star Game was found in a huge cabinet of passes and tickets.
I worked my way to the Great Hall, which houses the Stanley Cup, the awards trophies and the Hall of Fame plaques of all the inductees, including 44 players and builders from the Canadiens.
The wall of inductees is rather tall so you may need to look waaaaay up to find your favorite player.
On your way out, you’ll find a pile of Canadiens collectibles to add to your collection at the Spirit of Hockey store.
I budgeted this time and just grabbed a 100th Anniversary game puck for this trip. I have a list in case you are going and would like to get me something. :)
I found it interesting that some Saku Koivu t-shirts were on at clearance prices. My trip was 10 days before the free-agent deadline.
Did the Hall know something ahead of time?
In the meantime, I offer my complete collection of Canadiens exhibit photos taken during my visit here.
I will be adding a second part on International hockey as well as another installment on the rest of the Hall of Fame to my site in the coming weeks.
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 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.
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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