Remembering Montreal Canadiens Legend Bobby Rousseau: A Tribute to a Hockey Icon
The Montreal Canadiens announced the passing of former forward Robert “Bobby” Rousseau at the age of 85 in Trois-Rivières. Rousseau, born in Montreal in 1940, had a successful NHL career, playing 10 seasons with the Canadiens from 1961 to 1970. Before joining the Canadiens, he achieved success with the Hull-Ottawa Canadiens, winning the Memorial Cup in 1958 and representing Canada at the 1960 Winter Olympics.
Rousseau's rookie season in 1961-62 earned him the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie after scoring 45 points in 70 games. Known for his skating and playmaking abilities, he led the league in assists in 1965-66. Throughout his NHL career, Rousseau played 942 games, scoring 703 points, including 245 goals. He scored 200 goals and 322 assists with the Canadiens, ranking 22nd in club history.
A notable achievement for Rousseau was scoring five goals in a single game against the Detroit Red Wings in 1964, becoming one of only eight Canadiens players to accomplish this feat. In the playoffs, he played 128 games, scoring 16 goals and recording 29 assists. Apart from hockey, Rousseau was also a skilled golfer. He is survived by his wife, Huguette, children Richard, Pierre, and Anne, as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.