Béliveau attracted so many fans that the Colisée de Québec was built and earned the name The House That Béliveau Built. With Béliveau not seeming to want to play at the professional level, the Canadiens did something extreme. 🧵 5/17
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To force Béliveau to sign with the Canadiens, the team bought the entire Quebec Senior Hockey League. This turned the league professional and with his B-Form agreement, Béliveau had to sign with the Canadiens. They signed him to $105,000 over five years. 🧵 6/17
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At 6'3" and 205 pounds, Béliveau was a fast skater with great stickhandling and a highly-accurate shot. He quickly emerged as one of the best players in the league, on a team that was stacked with future Hall of Fame talent. 🧵 7/17
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He won the Art Ross Trophy as the league's leading scorer in 1955-56, along with his first Hart Trophy as league MVP. He won a second Hart in 1963-64. From 1953 to 1969, he played in 13 All-Star Games. He also won the first Conn Smythe Trophy in 1964-65. 🧵 8/17
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With the Canadiens, he won 10 Stanley Cups as a player, including five in a row from 1956 to 1960. In 1961, his teammates chose him to be team captain following the retirement of Maurice Richard. Béliveau captained the Canadians until his retirement a decade later. 🧵 9/17
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Hap Day said when asked if there was a way to stop Beliveau on the ice: "There is. But it isn’t legal.” Bobby Hull said he was so respected by others in the league that players felt bad taking the puck from him in a game. 🧵 10/17
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Béliveau retired after the 1970-71 season. In his career, he had 507 goals and 1,219 points. The Hockey Hall of Fame waived its usual three-year waiting period for induction for him. As an executive with the Canadiens, he won another seven Stanley Cups. 🧵 11/17
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After his retirement, he established the Jean Beliveau Foundation, which later became part of the Society for Disabled Children. In the early-1990s, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney offered him a Senate appointment but he declined as he felt legislators should be elected. 🧵 12/17
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In 1994, Prime Minister Jean Chretien offered him the post of Governor General of Canada. Béliveau turned it down to be with his daughter and two grandchildren following the death of his son-in-law. Throughout his later life, Béliveau received many honours in Canada. 🧵 13/17
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Béliveau received many honorary degrees, the Order of Canada and the National Order of Quebec. He was given a star on Canada's Walk of Fame and a stamp was issued by Canada Post to honour him. A CPR station is named for him as well. 🧵 14/17
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Later in life, Béliveau sold some career mementos to provide for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren after his death. Beloved and respected by Canadians, he was known for always being kind with fans and he never, if ever, refused to sign an autograph. 🧵 15/17
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