MONTREAL, Qc. - Former Canadiens great Jean Beliveau was given a public funeral mass Wednesday at Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral in Montreal.
Beliveau arrived at the cathedral before hundreds of fans assembled outside in a driving snow- and ice storm. Two large television screens outside the basilica broadcast the proceedings to those on the street.
Elise and Helene Beliveau, his wife and daughter, entered the church alongside Canadiens alumni, current players, and staff.
His casket was draped in a red, white, and blue Canadiens flag with the team's emblem embroidered into the middle, and carried into the procession by six pallbearers, all former Habs; Guy Lafleur, Serge Savard, Yvan Cournoyer, Jean-Guy Talbot, Phil Goyette, and Bobby Rousseau.
The mass was presided over by Christian Lepine, Archbishop of Montreal, and four eulogies were delivered, by former teammates and friends of Beliveau.
"This time of remembrance also has become a time of presence," the Archbishop said. "Jean's family is present, and we are present for his family."
"We present Jean, husband, father, friend, to God that he may welcome him to his kingdom, a kingdom of eternal love."
Dickie Moore skated left-wing for the Canadiens from 1952-1964, winning six Cups with Beliveau.
"I was lucky to have been with Jean for many glorious years with the Canadiens," he said, "lucky to share amazing moments together, lucky to have him as a friend."
He added, "Would you rather be good or lucky? I was lucky. He was good."
Yves Cournoyer matched Beliveau's 10 Cup-winning mark as the Habs' right-winger from 1964-1979, bidding farewell to his friend, "Oh captain, my captain. Bon voyage."
Serge Savard watched Beliveau skate on television as a 6-year-old boy before joining his hero on the ice in a Canadiens sweater from 1967-1981. He won 8 Stanley Cups, his first three alongside "Le Gros Bill," adding five more during the remainder of the 1970s.
"He treated everyone with respect," said Ken Dryden, who won the 1971 Stanley Cup with Beliveau in the latter's final year as a player. "He said the right things and in the right way, in French and in English, because that's what he believed and that's what he was."
"This is not a time to say goodbye," Dryden said. "This is a time to say 'thank you'. Merci."
"For six decades, he carried the torch for us, now we must carry it for him," Canadiens owner Geoff Molson said to the congregation.
Selections from the Bible were read following the eulogies and benediction:
"But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?"
Beliveau was renowned for his charitable work, adding to his reputation as a gentleman as well as sportsman, establishing the foundation that would bear his name in 1971. Its charity would be transferred to the Society for Disabled Children in 1993.
Following Holy Communion, he was led from the cathedral as the Hallelujah Chorus was sung.
Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper and Quebec premier Phillipe Couillard, Montreal mayor Denis Coderre, and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman all attended.
"We lost a great citizen," Prime Minister Harper said, "somebody who was admired and respected by everybody in the country. I have admired Mr. Beliveau since I was a little boy. He was already a part of the Hockey Hall of Fame and now he's become part of the history of our country."
"Just being in his presence was special," Bettman said on arrival. "He is revered. He was the epitome of elegance and class. He believed so much not just in the game but in the community. He will be sorely missed."
Beliveau is a 10-time Stanley Cup champion as the Canadiens center, and led the beloved program to seven more Cups as an executive. The 17 Cups that adorn his name are the most of any man in the history of the game.
Montreal defeated Vancouver 3-1 at the Bell Centre Tuesday night after a fifteen minute tribute to their star center and shone a spotlight on the seat he occupied for so many years as a team executive, draped over with his number 4. His wife Elise sat in the next seat and wept during the honor.
Showing posts with label Jean Beliveau. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jean Beliveau. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Canadiens honor Beliveau, down Canucks 3-1
MONTREAL, Qc. - Tomas Plekanec lit the lamp late for the Canadiens, who took and held a 3-1 decision over the Vancouver Canucks Tuesday night.
It was an occasion first somber, then joyous, as the team paid tribute to their former captain, Jean Beliveau, who died this week at the age of 83.
Plekanec would give the game-winning puck to Madame Elise Beliveau, the great center's widow, who was in attendance as her husband was honored.
A puck that, minutes before, Plekanec would fire top shelf on Vancouver's Ryan Miller after a development in the neutral zone.
Jiri Sekac and would dart a quick pass in that space to Sven Andrighetto along the far boards in the Canucks zone as the right-winger skated towards Miller.
He would flick a pass over to Plekanec in stride, who streaked through the attacking zone after splitting two defenders and shot good from close range.
It would break a stubborn 1-1 tie that held for most of the final session.
Montreal (18-10-2) returned to the Bell Centre after a wobbly four-game road trip, coming up with a 1-3 record in that time. The Canucks concluded a seven-game road campaign in defeat, returning to Canada's west coast with a 3-3-1 record in that stretch.
After a scoreless opening session, Brendan Gallagher would put the Canadiens on the board, assisted by Max Pacioretty and Tom Gilbert.
Gilbert brought the puck up the boards and dished across the ice to Gallagher, who flung a snap shot over Miller's right shoulder at 6:56.
Montreal had outshot Vancouver 7-0 up to that time in the second, and still held an 8-1 advantage halfway through that period.
But Derek Dorsett would answer for Vancouver (18-9-2) with a man down, cashing in on the Canucks' 6th-best penalty killing group, the only positive mark for the visitors on the evening.
Brad Richardson was sitting two minutes after giving a high stick to Brendan Gallagher, but it would be Dorsett, taking a puck that deflected off the skate of Plekanec deep in the Montreal zone, and firing from the left circle past Carey Price to produce the 1-1 stalemate.
Carey Price saved 15-of-16 shots he faced in net for the Canadiens. He kept the home side from an early deficit, launching himself post-to-post 90 seconds into the contest to stop a quick shot from Canucks center Nick Bonino.
The Habs fired 13 shots on Miller to the Canucks' 5 against Price in the second, and finished the night with a 25-16 shooting advantage. Ryan Miller stopped 22-of-24 for Vancouver.
Max Pacioretty nearly gave the Habs a lead in the middle frame when a sudden 2-on-1 chance developed the right circle, but his wrister clanged off the right post.
He added an empty-netter for his 13th goal this season with 1 second left.
Former Canadiens captain Jean Beliveau was honored in a fifteen minute ceremony before the puck drop Tuesday night.
"It was a little bit emotional before the game," Pacioretty said afterwards. "But I'm glad to be part of this night, and I'm glad we got her (Mrs. Beliveau) a victory."
Beliveau starred for the Habs from 1950 to 1971, winning 10 Stanley Cups, including a stretch from 1956-1960 of five straight titles. He added seven more as an executive, notching 17 Cups to his name, the most of any man in hockey.
Images of his life and hockey career were projected onto the ice for several minutes, followed by a moment of silence. A video tribute was shown as both teams took the ice.
A spotlight was shone on his wife, Elise, and daughter, Helene, to a long standing ovation as they both wept.
The seat beside Madame Beliveau was left open, with Beliveau's number 4 draped over it. The seat, three rows behind the Canadiens bench, was occupied by Beliveau nearly every home game when he served as the team's vice president and public relations director following his retirement as player.
The Canadiens honored their legend and friend the way he had for so many years, in convincing victory.
"We played one of our best games tonight," Habs coach Michel Therrien said of the occasion. "It gave me great satisfaction ending this slump after the commemoration."
Beliveau will be given a public funeral mass Wednesday at Montreal's Mary Queen of the World Cathedral, seat of that city's Archdiocese, two blocks from the Canadiens' home arena.
It was an occasion first somber, then joyous, as the team paid tribute to their former captain, Jean Beliveau, who died this week at the age of 83.
Plekanec would give the game-winning puck to Madame Elise Beliveau, the great center's widow, who was in attendance as her husband was honored.
A puck that, minutes before, Plekanec would fire top shelf on Vancouver's Ryan Miller after a development in the neutral zone.
Jiri Sekac and would dart a quick pass in that space to Sven Andrighetto along the far boards in the Canucks zone as the right-winger skated towards Miller.
He would flick a pass over to Plekanec in stride, who streaked through the attacking zone after splitting two defenders and shot good from close range.
It would break a stubborn 1-1 tie that held for most of the final session.
Montreal (18-10-2) returned to the Bell Centre after a wobbly four-game road trip, coming up with a 1-3 record in that time. The Canucks concluded a seven-game road campaign in defeat, returning to Canada's west coast with a 3-3-1 record in that stretch.
After a scoreless opening session, Brendan Gallagher would put the Canadiens on the board, assisted by Max Pacioretty and Tom Gilbert.
Gilbert brought the puck up the boards and dished across the ice to Gallagher, who flung a snap shot over Miller's right shoulder at 6:56.
Montreal had outshot Vancouver 7-0 up to that time in the second, and still held an 8-1 advantage halfway through that period.
But Derek Dorsett would answer for Vancouver (18-9-2) with a man down, cashing in on the Canucks' 6th-best penalty killing group, the only positive mark for the visitors on the evening.
Brad Richardson was sitting two minutes after giving a high stick to Brendan Gallagher, but it would be Dorsett, taking a puck that deflected off the skate of Plekanec deep in the Montreal zone, and firing from the left circle past Carey Price to produce the 1-1 stalemate.
Carey Price saved 15-of-16 shots he faced in net for the Canadiens. He kept the home side from an early deficit, launching himself post-to-post 90 seconds into the contest to stop a quick shot from Canucks center Nick Bonino.
The Habs fired 13 shots on Miller to the Canucks' 5 against Price in the second, and finished the night with a 25-16 shooting advantage. Ryan Miller stopped 22-of-24 for Vancouver.
Max Pacioretty nearly gave the Habs a lead in the middle frame when a sudden 2-on-1 chance developed the right circle, but his wrister clanged off the right post.
He added an empty-netter for his 13th goal this season with 1 second left.
Former Canadiens captain Jean Beliveau was honored in a fifteen minute ceremony before the puck drop Tuesday night.
"It was a little bit emotional before the game," Pacioretty said afterwards. "But I'm glad to be part of this night, and I'm glad we got her (Mrs. Beliveau) a victory."
Beliveau starred for the Habs from 1950 to 1971, winning 10 Stanley Cups, including a stretch from 1956-1960 of five straight titles. He added seven more as an executive, notching 17 Cups to his name, the most of any man in hockey.
Images of his life and hockey career were projected onto the ice for several minutes, followed by a moment of silence. A video tribute was shown as both teams took the ice.
A spotlight was shone on his wife, Elise, and daughter, Helene, to a long standing ovation as they both wept.
The seat beside Madame Beliveau was left open, with Beliveau's number 4 draped over it. The seat, three rows behind the Canadiens bench, was occupied by Beliveau nearly every home game when he served as the team's vice president and public relations director following his retirement as player.
The Canadiens honored their legend and friend the way he had for so many years, in convincing victory.
"We played one of our best games tonight," Habs coach Michel Therrien said of the occasion. "It gave me great satisfaction ending this slump after the commemoration."
Beliveau will be given a public funeral mass Wednesday at Montreal's Mary Queen of the World Cathedral, seat of that city's Archdiocese, two blocks from the Canadiens' home arena.
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