Le Gros Bill Questions......?

Question

Yes, Jean Béliveau, is my favorite player of all times. Never got to see him play live, but have seen him on tape, and as stated before, I have read a lot about him.

1.) How was Béliveau forced to play for the Habs?

2.) How much was his salary when he signed with the Canadians?

3.) When Jean played for the Quebec Aces, he was called up for two games. Did he score?

4.) What was another sport Jean Béliveau excelled at growing up?

5.) The Jean Béliveau Trophy is given to what players?


It's easy Friday. Super hyper, because it's my coffee day (the only day of the week I drink coffee)!!!!!

PuckDat: Are you trying to woo me with that extra fact ;) ?

Answer 1

1) Beliveau refused to play for the Habs and wanted to remain with the Quebec Aces so the Habs bought the entire Quebec Senior Hockey League to get him.
2) In 1953 Jean signed a 5 year $100,000 contract (average salary those days for most people was around $1,000)
3) Jean had a goal and an assist in his first two games, he also scored 5 goals in the 3 games he played the next season.
4) rugby
5) Top scorer in the QMJHL

Beliveau was offered the postion of Govenor General of Canada but turned it down.

I tossed that in there because i didn't know this and it's amazing really. Technically the GG (for those who do not know) is the highest office in Canada (it's actually above the PM) although the position is mostly ceremonial now.

Answer 2

1) The Canadiens bought the QSHL that Beliveau was plaing in and turned into a minor pro league. An earlier contract that Beliveau had signed stated that if he was to play pro hockey, it had to be with the Canadiens. If he wanted to play hockey, he therefore had no other options.

2) His original contract was for $100,000 over 5 years.

3) He scored one goal in 1951 for the Habs.

4) He grew up in an area where baseball was popular, so I'll go with that.

5) I believe it has something to do with community service work for underprivelaged kids, player exeplifying humaitarian principles. Something like that?

Answer 3

...I drink coffee almost every day... How are you alive any other day?? Lol.

Jean Beliveau is one of my favorites oldies as well, and like you, I unfortunately never got to see him play live. (Old videos & reading for me as well. Sigh.)

I can only answer questions 1, 2, and 5 with what I think is basically right. I seem to have some sort of attention/memory problem where I remember more about subjects I'm exposed to more recently. Some sort of long-term memory loss. I'm especially bad with numbers, like stats. Haha.

But here I go:
1.) Montreal bought the league that the Quebec Aces played in and were able to do as they pleased with Beliveau as per the contract he signed when he was younger. So they signed him to the Canadiens.
2.) $100,000 a year, for 5 years. Mucho money back then.
3.) GUESS: Sounds likely to me.
4.) Oo, I don't know this one at all---good trivia question!
5.) Top scorer in the Q! Sidney Crosby won it twice. Wooo!

Answer 4

PuckDat, it wasn't much better 10 years later.............my signing bonus was $6,500.00 (payable at once) and if I made the big club, I would be paid $600/mo. In the minors, it was $400/mo. The average salary in North America was $9600/yr. So in those days, NHL players were underpaid.

I still laugh at MLB. In 1960, their average salary was $21,000 a year. In 1970, it was $97,000 a year. In 1980, it was $240,000 a year. In 1990, it was $880,000 a year. In 2000 it was $2.1MM a year. All pretty nice jumps if you ask me.

In 1979-80, the average NHL salary was still just $61,000. In 1990 it was $173,000. In 1994, it was $400,000, and in 2004, it was $2.4MM....and today it is just under $2MM. So, we started out behind, but we caught up!

Answer 5

I can answer 1. and possibly 4. and 5. The Canadiens bought not just his team but his entire league, meaning he had to go where they told him. It might not have been ethical, but it was legal, and it brought them 10 or 11 Stanley Cups (depending on how many you think he actively contributed to). I think the Beliveau Trophy is given to the MVP of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. 4. may have been baseball, but I'm not sure. As for 2. and 3., I don't know.

Answer 6

1) The Canadiens purchased the entire QSHL
2) $20K/yr ($100,000 over 5 years)
3) 1 goal and 1 assist
4) Football/Rugby (He was an all-Quebec all-star in both during high school). He was also a very good baseball player.
5) Top scorer in the QMJHL

Answer 7

1) Before the NHL held it's entry draft the Canadiens had first rights to any player from Quebec. Ergo... The took him to play.