Winter is a big deal in Québec and with ease of access to indoor and outdoor rinks, skating is a popular pastime, even if it is maybe taken for granted here. So, it’s no surprise that hockey is the most popular sport.

While I personally do not dream of playing sports for my future, Canadian NHL players start off as young kids like us, full of passion and a dream. Jean Béliveau is the most well-known name from Trois-Rivières and he started on a backyard ice rink and quickly rose through to professional NHL hockey. If you really want the specific details, please look him up on Wikipedia. I’m not doing a school essay here.

Simply put, Jean Béliveau was a notably talented player. He played 20 seasons (1950-1971) with the Montreal Canadiens and was added to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972, just one year after his last season. Béliveau was among the best of his time and won many notable awards, trophies, and 17 Stanley Cup championships, all with the Montreal Canadiens. In 2017, Beliveau became one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history. It’s no surprise that his legacy would inspire many kids in the area who are as passionate about hockey as he was.

Having a hometown hero, or from a surrounding town, gives kids hope that with their passion and a lot of work, they can succeed and achieve their dreams too. Hockey is a popular sport all over North America so there are many opportunities to take part in the sport. Even just as a fan, watching the game creates a community with friends and family. Interestingly, I have noticed that while every province has a large following of their provincial team, I would say that Québec has the largest support for their own, as it’s difficult to compare to Montréal’s history. Even more so when some of the best players come from your hometown and near-by areas. Jean Béliveau was an amazing hockey player who set a great example for young kids and even though he passed away in 2014, he continues to inspire the younger hockey generations.

Main Photo Credit: Taylor Friehl on Unsplash