A Canadian GIANT has died. Mr. Jean Beliveau to lie in state at Bell Centre, given national funeral.

[woodbuck27]

http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/jean-beliveau-to-lie-in-state-at-bell-centre-given-national-funeral-1.2130402

One of the Greatest Sports figures in Canadian Sports history has died.

Mr. Jean Beliveau "Le Gros Jean" passed away @ 11:45 PM Tues. Dec. 02, 2014.

Jean Beliveau to lie in state at Bell Centre, given national funeral.

Read more: http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/jean-beli...#ixzz3Kt2nrqHj

Mr. Jean Beliveau (1931-2014)

Mr. Jean Beliveau to lie in state at Bell Centre, given national funeral.

Comment woodbuck27:

This is Canada's greatest honour for the life of a Man respected at a level beyond most any person in our history.

Jean Beliveau was the Captain for The Montreal Canadians and led Les Habitants to Ten (10) Stanley Cup Championships in 20 years playing in the NHL. The Montreal Canadians have won the Stanley Cup more times than any other franchise. They have won 24 championships making it the second most successful professional sports team of the traditional four major sports of Canada and the United States, behind only the Boston Celtics.

The tributes to this man's life have been pouring in via the media all day. It's been something I've never seen in it's overwhelming extent in my lifetime. The outstanding tributes couldn't go to a more deserving man.

Yesterday Canada lost a GIANT.

GO HABS GO !

[woodbuck27]

http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/video?playlistId=1.2130350

Hockey loses one of it's greatest.

I shed a few tears today learning of Mr. Jean Beliveau's passing. Thousands of Canadians shed tears today at this loss. This is a very sad loss. This man was truly unique. Canadians held Mr. Jean Beliveau close to their hearts. He was a great friend to everyone. He was Regal.

The respect this man's life left with us will be demonstrated by Canadian's citizens in these days leading to his funeral. Today flags flew at half mast in Quebec and he will receive a National funeral. The Montreal Canadians will honour his life over a four day period and that starts this Sunday.

Mr. Jean Beliveau was Canada's BEST SELF.

I wish for Mr. Jean Beliveau a future of Blue Sky's and hard clean ice.

I loved Mr. Jean Beliveau. I never have never will see another like him.

[Harlan Huckleby]

He's a bit before my time. I was a hockey fan as a kid. Bobby Orr and then Bobby Clarke were my heroes.

[woodbuck27]

He's a bit before my time. I was a hockey fan as a kid. Bobby Orr and then Bobby Clarke were my heroes.

One of his greatest games was Vs Bobby Orr and the very solid 1971 Boston Bruins in the playoff.

The 'Pocket Rocket' Henri Richard (younger brother of Maurice 'Rocket' Richard. Scored with about 4 minutes remaining in the second period to make the score 5-2 Boston Bruins.

Mr. Jean Beliveau the captain of the Montreal Canadians encouraged his team to fight hard and believe in a comeback. The Bruins were already up one game in the seven game series. Sure enough...Beliveau scored the next two goals. The HABS would score three more unanswered goals and win the game 7-5.

This was termed the greatest defeat in Boston Bruins history.

The Montreal Canadians went on to win this series and eventually defeat the Chicago Blackhawks to win the Stanley Cup. One of ten Cups that Mr. Jean Beliveau would win in his career all with the Montreal Canadians.

[woodbuck27]

http://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/nhl/montreal-canadiens/jean-beliveau-public-viewing-begins-at-bell-centre-on-sunday

Montreal pays its respects to Canadiens legend Jean Béliveau

Montreal Gazette

Dave Stubbs, Montreal Gazette


" Montrealers lined up for hours before the doors opened at the Bell Centre on Sunday for their chance to pay their respects to Canadiens legend Jean Béliveau during the first of two days of public viewing."

[mraynrand]

One of the Greatest Sports figures in Canadian Sports history has died.

[woodbuck27]

This exceeds the best response.

Your worth zero.

[mraynrand]

This exceeds the best response.

Your worth zero.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Beyond the pale, Rand. You make think it is silly for Woody to care so much about the passing of a hockey player with no teeth, but grave dances are nasty.

[woodbuck27]

Beyond the pale, Rand. You make think it is silly for Woody to care so much about the passing of a hockey player with no teeth, but grave dances are nasty.

Just a small bit on Jean Beliveau. No mere words can do true justice to the life of this man. Few men have or will ever pass away and cause so many to have tears over and over in terms of the memory of that man and the loss they feel.

To deem Jean Beliveau as truly special fails to give his life proper justice.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_B%C3%A9liveau

Mr. Jean Beliveau was much much more than just a Pro hockey player of outstanding credibility and respect.

and.....

Harlan Jean Beliveau had his teeth. Jean Beliveau was a very handsome man. Everyone felt honoured just to ever be in his presence. He was 'the class act' of class acts.



Mr. Jean Beliveau was loved by the entire country and lived an impeccable life. He was truly " le Gros Bill ". A man who always had time for anyone no matter their station in life. This man gave and gave and ....then gave again to anyone who asked of him.



Today Canadians witnessed a National Funeral fitting for an enormous man. His funeral was attended by the who's who of Canada. The city of Montreal and the Montreal Canadians Family lost an enormous person and Canada has grieved for a week over Jean Beliveau's death. I've never seen anything like it in my lifetime.

[mraynrand]

Beyond the pale, Rand. You make think it is silly for Woody to care so much about the passing of a hockey player with no teeth, but grave dances are nasty.

[mraynrand]

Just a small bit on Jean Beliveau. No mere words can do true justice to the life of this man. Few men have or will ever pass away and cause so many to have tears over and over in terms of the memory of that man and the loss they feel.

Pretty cool dude. There is a movie coming out about a similar guy, who was beyond his sport (olympic runner) cool. Hard to believe it got made by hollywood, because the guy was a devout Christian and hollywood doesn't like those stories (see the Johnny Cash movie for example).

[Harlan Huckleby]

Harlan Jean Beliveau had his teeth. Jean Beliveau was a very handsome man.

I'll bet there isn't a pro hockey player prior to 1980 who has all of their teeth, certainly not the front choppers. Hate to ruin the romance for you, but those are dentures.

For some reason, I just thought of Gump Worsley, who played goalie in pro hockey from 1946-1974. I saw him play for Minnesota North Stars. He was the last goalie to play without a mask, he looked older than Father Time.

As a troubled teen, I stole lumber from a city building site and built a hockey rink in the backyard. My dad was a star hockey player in Duluth, and he approved of the initiative shown by my brother and I. Of course the lawn was destroyed, but that was small price. It was a bozo brand of hockey where some kids played in boots. Marijuana was part of the training table.

[woodbuck27]

I'll bet there isn't a pro hockey player prior to 1980 who has all of their teeth, certainly not the front choppers. Hate to ruin the romance for you, but those are dentures.

For some reason, I just thought of Gump Worsley, who played goalie in pro hockey from 1946-1974. I saw him play for Minnesota North Stars. He was the last goalie to play without a mask, he looked older than Father Time.

As a troubled teen, I stole lumber from a city building site and built a hockey rink in the backyard. My dad was a star hockey player in Duluth, and he approved of the initiative shown by my brother and I. Of course the lawn was destroyed, but that was small price. It was a bozo brand of hockey where some kids played in boots. Marijuana was part of the training table.

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/12/09/hockey-heroes-a-lost-breed

Hockey heroes a lost breed

By: Mike Strobel, Toronto Sun

First posted: Tuesday, December 09, 2014 08:43 PM EST | Updated: Tuesday, December 09, 2014 09:13 PM EST

[woodbuck27]

“In the Yiddish language, we have a word, it’s called ‘mensch,’ ” said Baum. “A mensch personifies the ultimate person, the best individual. There’s no English equivalent to the word,

Mr. (Jean) Béliveau was a mensch, that’s the best way to describe him.”

http://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/nhl/montreal-canadiens/jean-beliveau-an-icon-to-many-a-mensch-to-all

Jean Béliveau an icon to many, a mensch to all

Christopher Curtis, Montreal Gazette

Published on: December 8, 2014 | Last Updated: December 8, 2014 6:57 PM EST