Canadiens Great Jean Beliveau's Life in Pictures

Montreal Canadiens captain Jean Beliveau is a hockey great. His regular-season numbers — 507 goals, 712 assists, 1219 points — are respectable, especially considering he played 20 years in the NHL. But it was what he did in the postseason that makes him a legend. He won 10 Stanley Cups — including five in a row from 1956-1960 — and the first Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs. He also has the distinction of being the first hockey player to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Before making history with the Canadiens, Jean Beliveau was a star with the Quebec Aces of the Quebec Senior Hockey League (QSHL).

Even before breaking out in the NHL, Beliveau was a fan favorite — especially with kids. Here, Beliveau is autographing hockey sticks at an unidentified banquet event.

After playing three games during the 1952-53 season, Beliveau entered the NHL for good as a center for the Montreal Canadiens in 1953-54. Here, he flies through the air after being tripped during game versus the NY Rangers.

Beliveau won his first Stanley Cup in 1956. He would win a total of 10 in his 20-year career. Here, Montreal Canadiens' Maurice Richard, left, and Beliveau pose with the Cup after beating the Boston Bruins in the 1958 Stanley Cup Finals. With Beliveau, the Habs won five-straight Cups from 1956-1960.

Beliveau poses for an action portrait at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Jean Beliveau won his sixth Stanley Cup, as well as the first Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP, by defeating the Chicago Blackhawks in 1965 Stanley Cup Finals.

Beliveau against the New York Rangers in the 1967 playoffs.

The Canadiens won the 1968 Stanley Cup by defeating the St. Louis Blues. Coach Toe Blake (second from right) celebrates his last Cup win as Beliveau (on crutches) speaks to Montreal Forum crowd.

Beliveau (left) and goalie Rogatien Vachon defend vs. Boston Bruins star Phil Esposito in the NHL semifinals.

Beliveau holds up the Stanley Cup (his ninth) after defeating the St. Louis Blues in Game 4 of the 1969 Stanley Cup Finals on May 4, 1969, at the St. Louis Arena in St. Louis, Missouri.

Montreal Canadiens' captain Jean Beliveau is presented the Stanley Cup by NHL Commissioner Clarence Campbell after Montreal beat Chicago in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. It was his tenth, and final, Stanley Cup.

Beliveau poses for a photo in the early 1970s. He retired from playing in 1971.

Former Montreal Canadiens player Jean Beliveau raises the torch before the NHL opening game between the Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs on January 19, 2013 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Jean Beliveau, formerly of the Montreal Canadiens, salutes the crowd prior to a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs as the teams salute their Original Six rivalry at the Bell Centre on January 8, 2009 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Beliveau died Dec. 2, 2014, at the age of 83.