Montreal Canadiens Hall of Famer Jean Beliveau Hospitalized After Stroke

Montreal Canadiens Hall of Fame center Jean Beliveau is hospitalized after a stroke, the National Hockey League team said.

Beliveau, 80, is undergoing tests and observation, the team said in a statement on its website. Beliveau was stricken yesterday. He underwent surgery in June to repair abdominal aneurysms, according to the team.

Beliveau played parts of 20 seasons with Montreal, winning the Stanley Cup 10 times as a player and seven more as an executive with the team. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972 after the hall waived its customary three-year waiting period.

A 14-time All-Star, Beliveau was the Canadiens’ captain from 1961 until his retirement in 1971. He ranks second in club history behind Guy Lafleur with 1,219 points and 712 assists. His 507 goals are third behind Lefleur and Maurice Richard.

After joining the Canadiens in 1953, Beliveau went on to win the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s scoring champion in 1956 and the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league’s most valuable player in 1956 and 1964. In 1965, he became the first player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the playoffs after leading the Canadiens to a win over the Chicago Black Hawks in the Stanley Cup final.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mike Buteau in Atlanta at mbuteau@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net

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Canadiens Hall of Famer Beliveau Hospitalized After Stroke

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Jean Beliveau presents his award prior to a game between the Florida Panthers and the Montreal Canadiens in Montreal, on Sept. 27, 2010.

Jean Beliveau presents his award prior to a game between the Florida Panthers and the Montreal Canadiens in Montreal, on Sept. 27, 2010. Photographer: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images