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Jean Beliveau
Jean Beliveau (right), with Maurice
"The Rocket" Richard
Jean Beliveau
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Gentleman Jean combines rare archival footage
with interviews and anecdotes from former teammates, including
Canadiens legends Boom Boom Geoffrion, Dickie Moore and Beliveau
protégé Guy Lafleur. Wayne Gretzky talks about
how Beliveau was a role model for him, and how similar their
playing styles were. Legendary Maple Leaf goalie Johnny Bower
confesses how nervous Beliveau made him, and biographer and
close personal friend Allan Turowetz provides insight into
Beliveau's role as a business executive, husband and father.
The eldest of eight children born during the Depression,
Beliveau grew up steeped in the traditional Roman Catholicism
of his parents. His father's simple, working-class values
would form the bedrock of Beliveau's personal philosophy and
shape his career. He became a hockey idol in Quebec City,
earning more money as an amateur with the Quebec Aces than
the NHL's most seasoned stars, including top earner Rocket
Richard.
Beliveau paid a high price, both physically and emotionally,
for his sucess, however. In the '60s he suffered a series
of injuries that threatened to end his career. He also suffered
heart problems that left him dizzy, nauseated and chronically
fatigued. Plagued by scoring slumps, a hostile press and the
boos of hometown fans, he endured the flip side of adulation
- the hero was knocked down from his pedestal. But Beliveau's
record speaks for itself - he was one of only four players
in NHL history to score 500 goals and, as captain, he led
the Canadiens to four Stanley Cup victories in five years.
Today, Beliveau is fighting his toughest battle - against
cancer. He is recovering from two months of gruelling radiation
therapy to treat a tumour on his neck. But Beliveau has always
faced his problems with dignity. "Elegant on the ice,
distinguished off it," says Gretzky.
Original Air Date - January 16, 2001
Links
Jean
Beliveau: Legends of Hockey (from the Hockey Hall of Fame)
Canadien's
Beliveau one of a kind (NHL.com)
Jean
Beliveau stats page
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