John Bellevue I've often said is the greatest man I've ever met in the NHL or in hockey.
Without note was the class of all the people that ever played.
Six feet four, three-piece suit, not a hair out of place, on the ice, he played that same
way.
John Bellevue, the personification of poise and face of the Montreal Canadiens for two
decades, drew the attention of General Manager Frank Selke at age 15, yet his efforts to
recruit the junior standout faltered as Bellevue was reluctant to turn pro.
John Bellevue was playing with the Quebec Aces in the Quebec senior league and he had
great loyalty.
Eventually the Habs had to buy the senior league in which he was playing to acquire the
future star.
I was 22 finally when I signed my first contract in October, 1933.
I came at a time when they were great teammates.
My first seven years I sat beside Maurice, it was a dream come true.
The heir apparent to the beloved Maurice the Rocket Richard, Bellevue tallied 47 goals
and led the NHL in scoring in just his third year.
That spring Montreal overcame Detroit for Bellevue's first championship.
You dream of wearing the Canadian uniform, but after you become a member you dream to
win the Stanley Cup.
He made Montreal Canadians, when he arrived they won five Stanley Cups in a row.
After winning that fifth straight cup, the Rocket retired and his successor Doug Harvey
was traded following the 1960-61 season, leaving the Canadians without a captain.
Coach Toblake had his players vote.
It came down to Bellevue and his line mate Bernie Jeffery on.
Jeffery and I, first time came even, I was already shocked to me, I didn't see me there
at all, I was not even an alternate captain.
So Toblake said we're going to have a second round.
He came back and they came to me and he shook my hand and he said boys here's your new captain.
He almost fell off my chair.
Bellevue would serve as captain from 1961 until his retirement a decade later.
Under his leadership, the team would win five more cups, the most under any NHL captain,
including an unexpected run during his final season in 1971.
He said one time that it was his favorite cup because it was the gift, it was the one
that came out of nowhere, the one that should happen at the end of the kind of career that
he had but wasn't going to be and then it was.
In addition to 10 Stanley Cups, Jean Bellevue won two heart trophies, the Art Ross Trophy
and the inaugural Conn Smyth Trophy.
He was the first center to net 500 goals and trails only gila floor in total points by
a Montreal Canadian.
No matter what he did, he was the presence and he was basically the heart and soul of
the Montreal Canadians.
Jean Bellevue was for me Mr. Hockey.
He was a great example for all Canadians and especially Tobikers.
When I look back after all those years, I couldn't ask for a better life.
