Former Canadian defender Jean-Guy Talbot, who won the Stanley Cup seven times with the Habs, died Friday at the age of 91, according to Radio-Canada.
Born in Cap-de-la-Madeleine in 1932, Jean-Guy Talbot began his career in the NHL with the Canadiens, playing three games during the 1954-1955 season. He would play 12 other seasons in a CH uniform.
Number 17 was one of the “12 apostles” who monopolized the Stanley Cup for five years in a row, from 1956 to 1960. He also won the trophy on two other occasions in the Canadian uniform, in 1965 and 1966.
In 1967, in the expansion draft, Talbot was selected by the Minnesota North Stars. Shortly after, he reunited with Scotty Bowman, head coach of the St. Louis Blues. He also wore the colors of the Detroit Red Wings and the Buffalo Sabres.
PHOTO PIERRE-YVES LÉTOURNEAU, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Jean-Guy Talbot, seen here during a match at the Montreal Forum in 1966.
Talbot played in 1,056 regular season games and another 150 in the playoffs in the National League. He had his best season in 1962-1963, amassing 47 points, which earned him a first all-star team.
Before starting his career in the NHL, he worked alongside Jean Béliveau with the Quebec Aces from 1952 to 1954.
After hanging up his skates in 1971, he also served as head coach of the New York Blues and Rangers. In 1978, he returned to Cap-de-la-Madeleine, his hometown, where he worked at the O’Keefe Brewery.
Last September, Louis Beaudet and former Bécancour mayor Jean-Guy Dubois published Talbot’s biography, entitled Torch bearer and of which Serge Savard signs the preface.