NHL greats, prime minister turn out to honour Habs legend Beliveau (Montreal Gazette)

Bill Beacon, Canadian PressPublished: Friday, March 30, 2007

MONTREAL (CP) - Many former NHL greats and Prime Minister Stephen Harper turned out Thursday night to honour legendary Montreal Canadiens captain Jean Beliveau.
The Bell Centre was transformed into a giant dining hall filled with tuxedo-clad hockey stars, politicians past and present and many members of the business community to pay tribute to the 75-year-old Beliveau. About C$1 million was expected to be raised for six children's hospitals and charities.

"It's hard to have the right words to describe it," Beliveau said before the event. "I've been retired from hockey for 35 or 36 years and I'm always amazed to have so many invitations and having nights like this."

Former Detroit Red Wing Gordie Howe, ex-Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Johnny Bower, former New York Ranger Rod Gilbert and former Leafs and Wings star Red Kelly, as well as dozens of former Montreal Canadiens were on hand.

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/story.html?id=2a8cd244-534f-4bcf-a58e-b9498595a885&k=66118

Also on this story, a special section on the Montreal Gazette online containing a photo gallery of the gala (see what some former hockey legends look like today), and a written tribute by the Gazette's Pat Hickey.
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/index.html#

Finally, one can find yet another beautiful tribute by legendary hockey writer Red Fisher for the legendary and classy Jean Beliveau
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/sports/story.html?id=28e64969-5524-41f8-a3f2-f797087a25e9