Hockey legend Jean Beliveau died last Tuesday in Montreal. He was 83 years old and had suffered a variety of health problems the past few years, which included a stroke in 2012 and bouts of pneumonia earlier this year.

Beliveau's regal bearing and talent for scoring made him a symbol of the Montreal Canadiens and their long-gone days of hockey greatness.

Like Us on Facebook

He was 6-foot-3, and for his height, he was considered as a giant on the rink. He made his National Hockey League (NHL) debut in the 1950-51 season and soon stood out as a physical but stately presence in the sport of hockey.

He was a 10-time all-star at center and scored an impressive 507 regular-season goals. This feat ranks him third in NHL history when he retired. In addition, he was voted as the Most Valuable Player.

As a player he won the Stanley Cup 10 times, five of those times as the captain of what some people consider the sport's most successful team. This catapulted him to become an icon in Quebec.

In 1971, after the Canadiens beat the Chicago Blackhaws in a memorable seven-game series, Beliveau retired. The following year, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

After his time playing hockey, he continued his extensive charity work and was appointed a vice president of the Canadiens. His name was engraved on the Stanley Cup an additional seven times.

He eventually relinquished all of his duties in 1993 but still served as a revered ambassador to the sport. 

"I guess you could say I've spent my life with this team," he told Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper in 2009. "There are a lot of people who still see the Canadiens as a representation of themselves and the fans invest their emotions and identities, especially when it's going well."

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Elise; their daughter Helene, and granddaughters Mylene and Magalie. 

TagsJean Beliveau, hockey, died