Jean Béliveau: My Life in Hockey

Raymond B. Blake is an assistant professor of history at Mount Allison
University and the author of Canadians at Last: Canada Integrates
Newfoundland as a Province.

I happened to be in Ottawa in late 1994, when Jean Béliveau was signing
copies of My Life in Hockey at one of the local bookstores. It has been
nearly 25 years since he last played with the Montreal Canadiens, but
people lined up for the book signing even before Béliveau arrived, and
he autographed copies nonstop for more than two hours. Those who went
away with a copy of his book will not be disappointed.

The book examines Béliveau’s 40-some years in hockey. He recalls
fondly the years he spent in Quebec City with the Aces, the personal and
team triumphs with the Montreal Canadiens, and his career in the
Montreal front office. But this is not just the story of Jean Béliveau.
He talks honestly about his teammates, his opponents, and the coaches
and management in Montreal. For instance, he discusses the Canadiens’
decision not to reward Scotty Bowman with the general manager’s
position after Sam Pollock retired, because Scotty, though one of the
best coaches in the NHL, was too impetuous. Béliveau even devotes a
full chapter to Bobby Orr, and throughout the book he talks about the
current players and coaches. Although he realizes that much has changed
since the time he played, he attempts to put current matters into
perspective by comparing them with the issues that prevailed during the
era in which he played.

As I watched the crowd that evening in Ottawa, I realized that people
had come to see Béliveau not simply because was one of the best players
of his era, but also because he has come to represent what we want to
see in our sports heroes but can rarely find. Unlike many of today’s
players, Béliveau always had a sense of obligation and commitment to
his fans and to his team. And in this book, he doesn’t hide anything
as he talks frankly about his personal troubles and triumphs. Béliveau
scores again with his autobiography.