07:48
Muhammad Aslam
Canadians are mourning the passing of a legend, as former Montreal Canadiens captain Jean Béliveau died at age 83 on Tuesday.
Bélivea was loved by hockey fans for his 10 Stanley Cups as a player with the Canadiens, but also by those outside the arena for his service to Canada.
"He was the perfect gentleman," said former prime minister Jean Chrétien, who offered Béliveau the office of Governor General in 1994.
Béliveau rejected it for family reasons, but Chretien always held the Habs great in high regard.
"Aline and I had him [over] for dinner when we discussed the possibility and we were like fans waiting for a star to come to the residence."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a hockey historian himself, issued a statement and offered his condolences.
“Mr. Béliveau will be remembered as a hockey giant who inspired a nation with his outstanding skill, humility and pure love of the game," Harper said.
"His legacy lives on in the records he set, the legions of hockey players that he inspired, and the deep love he shared with his home province of Quebec.”
Many people took to social media to react to Béliveau's passing.
- Hockey fans pay respects to Béliveau
- Dick Irvin picks Béliveau as greatest Canadien
- Béliveau put Canadiens ahead of personal glory
- Gretzky, Beliveau among Order of Hockey recipients
- Canadian astronaut Thirsk has space chat with Béliveau
- ARCHIVES: Jean Béliveau, hockey's gentle giant
One of the finest centres who ever played, Béliveau helped lead the Canadiens to an unprecedented five straight Stanley Cups during the 1950s and 1960s over his 20-year career.
Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre summed up the feeling surrounding the passing of the Canadiens legend when he announced that the hockey world and the entire country would be mourning this great loss.
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